Last week, a move by the GOP-majority House to censure Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan was thwarted. Tlaib, known for her critical stance on Israel, faced the censure motion brought forth by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia. The motion was set aside with a 222-184 vote, where 22 Republicans joined the Democrats in opposition.
Now, Rep. Rick McCormick of Georgia has introduced another resolution regarding this matter. The House, in a close decision on Tuesday, voted 213 to 208 against setting this resolution aside, signaling a potential debate on censure.
Nearly a month ago, Hamas launched an assault leading to the deadliest day in Israel’s history since the Holocaust, with 1,400 Israeli casualties. Hamas was accused of indiscriminately targeting civilians, including children and the elderly, and committing acts of rape, kidnapping, and torture.
Rep. Tlaib remained silent immediately after the attacks and provided a comment only later through a Detroit media outlet. She received further criticism for sharing misinformation on her social media on October 17, accusing Israel of bombing a hospital in Gaza, a claim that later turned out to be linked to a misfired rocket from militants. Despite the uproar and subsequent arrests during a pro-Hamas rally at the Capitol, Tlaib initially stood by her statements.
It wasn’t until October 25 that Tlaib revised her stance, acknowledging the inaccurate report and calling for an independent investigation into the events in line with United Nations recommendations.
Rep. Tlaib’s criticisms of Israel have intensified since the failed resolution to censure her. She appeared in a video advertisement criticizing President Joe Biden’s policies towards Israel, including footage of pro-Hamas rallies. The ad sparked controversy for featuring chants historically associated with anti-Israel sentiments. Tlaib later defended this as a plea for freedom and coexistence, not violence.
The House’s deliberations on censuring Rep. Tlaib continue, with Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, who is Jewish, advocating for her on free speech grounds. He paralleled Tlaib’s comments to other historically censured statements not based on words but on actions.
While Raskin stood by Tlaib, he had previously supported the censure of Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona for sharing a controversial video. His defense of Tlaib has been met with approval from Democratic colleagues, though the resolution’s outcome is still pending and is expected to be decided by Wednesday. Raskin’s stance centers on the argument that the resolution is targeting free speech rather than any substantive action by