Rep. Rashida Tlaib condemns Trump’s ‘hate,’ takes no responsibility for her own

Tlaib used contemptible language to denounce Trump after her swearing-in ceremony. After apologizing for the “distraction,” rather than her words, Tlaib only made the battle lines clearer, adding, “I know my residents are nodding … and they have my back on this.”

The Palestinian-American’s shifting public statements about Israel also prove her plenty capable of “othering.” As her true opinions are revealed, so, too, are her anti-Semitic prejudices and ties with proponents of anti-Semitism, including one of Tlaib’s campaign fundraisers.

Tlaib’s first radical shift on Israel took place after she won her primary election in 2018. Before the primary, she gained an endorsement from the “pro-Israel, pro-peace” advocacy group J Street by claiming to support a two-state solution, as well as “all current aid to Israel and the Palestinian Authority.” After winning her primary, Tlaib changed her stance, saying, “it has to be one state. Separate but equal doesn’t work,” and that, regarding Israel, “Americans should not be aiding any country that doesn’t support human rights.”

In December, Tlaib became the second lawmaker (along with Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn.,) to back the boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement, which she claims brings to light Israel’s “racism and … international human rights violations.”

Also in December, Tlaib stated she would eschew the traditional new representatives’ visit to Israel, sponsored by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Instead, the representative is planning a congressional visit to the West Bank, though congressional leaders claim this would harm U.S. relations with Israel.

In January, responding to a GOP-sponsored initiative to provide defense assistance to Israel and “protect from lawsuits states that pass laws banning business with Israel boycotters,” Tlaib tweeted that lawmakers “forgot what country they represent.”

Tlaib’s comment was denounced as anti-Semitic — claims that Jews have more loyalty to Israel than their own country are described as such by the State Department. Tlaib then clarified that her tweet referenced not Jews, but sitting legislators, who she believed infringed First Amendment rights. As the Washington Examiner’s Siraj Hashmi points out, the statement still implies “Jews are controlling U.S. senators.”

Drawing further ire in January were two photographs, one of which Tlaib posted in April 2018 of herself with Abbas Hamideh. A supporter of Hezbollah, which the U.S. designates as a foreign terrorist organization, Hamideh frequently issues hateful anti-Semitic tweets, claiming that Israel has “no right to exist” and consists of “Criminal Zionists.”

On Friday, Tlaib claimed not to know Hamideh and made the nebulous remark that “I do not agree with the statements brought to my attention.”

This comment rings especially hollow given new information brought to light Monday about Tlaib’s fundraiser, Maher Abdel-qader, who raised “hundreds of thousands” in campaign dollars for the representative, and whom Tlaib thanked for his efforts by presenting him with a medal.

Abdel-qeder added Tlaib to a Facebook group titled “Palestinian American Congress” in February 2018. In the group, members have written posts “accusing Jews of controlling the media and perpetuating other anti-Semitic stereotypes.” As well as making anti-Semitic statements, Abdel-qeder has shared, on both his personal and his group pages, a video rife with anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, to include suggestions that “the truth about the Holocaust” has been misrepresented.

Just minutes away from Tlaib’s 13th Congressional District, the Holocaust Memorial Center in Farmington Hills, Mich., bears solemn witness to the 5 million non-Jewish and six million Jewish victims of the Nazis’ baseless prejudices and hatred. Along with “teach[ing] the lessons of the Holocaust,” the center hopes to “inspire individuals to stand up in support of tolerance and acceptance of all people.”

The Holocaust Memorial Center, though it “denounces all hateful statements,” did not specifically comment on questions about Tlaib’s anti-Semitic speech and associations. The center told me Tlaib had visited and said she “believe[s] the lessons the museum teaches are relevant to everyone.”

One hopes that her visit made Tlaib reconsider ties with associates who spout anti-Semitism and question the veracity of the Holocaust. But by her own continued promotion of division and hatred on a national stage, Tlaib already appears to forget at least one key point: that the center’s lessons apply to more than one’s allies.

Tlaib is not the first to hurl hatred at her opponents even while claiming those opponents are the only parties guilty of hate. Nor is she the first to be called to answer to accusations of anti-Semitism, or allegiances with those who profess that vile hatred. She joins numerous other media personalities, celebrities, politicians, and citizens who have forgotten the vital importance of tolerance and acceptance in regards to their fellow Americans.

If only she’d look in a mirror while she condemns hatred, she might realize that.

Beth Bailey (@BWBailey85) is a freelance writer from the Detroit area.