Politicians from across the political spectrum are condemning Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) for defending a chant calling for the destruction of Israel and the ethnic cleansing of Jews from the region. Tlaib echoed Hamas’ use of the phrase, “from Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea,” which the terrorists use as a rallying cry for the eradication of the State of Israel.
On Friday, Tlaib, who claims to be the only Palestinian serving in the U.S. Congress, called the phrase “an aspirational call for freedom, human rights, and peaceful coexistence,” sparking outrage, even among many in her own party.
Tlaib defended the chant on X, saying, “From the river to the sea is an aspirational call for freedom, human rights, and peaceful coexistence, not death, destruction, or hate. My work and advocacy is always centered in justice and dignity for all people no matter faith or ethnicity.”
X user StopAntisemitism, which bills itself as a non-partisan antisemitism organization, disagreed:
Perhaps more upsetting for Tlaib is the fact that fellow Democrats now appear to be fed up with her anti-Israel remarks.
Michigan attorney general Dana Nessel, a far-left Democrat, posted on X,
Jeremy Moss, a Democrat in the Michigan Senate, explained further: “This is not how Jews view the phrase ‘from the river to the sea.’ This is not how Hamas views the phrase ‘from the river to the sea,’ Hamas uses it as a rallying cry. And they don’t simply want to displace Jews in Israel. They want Jews dead.”
Another Michigan state Democrat, Representative Noah Arbit, also questioned Tlaib’s contention that the chant was “aspirational.”
“It is entirely possible to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in a way that dignifies and uplifts the national aspirations of both Jews and Arabs. ‘From the river to the sea’ isn’t it,” Arbit posted.
Fellow Congressional Democrat Representative Elissa Slotkin, also of Michigan, also attempted to educate the headstrong Tlaib.
“As the only Jewish member of MI’s congressional delegation, I have worked to reach out to Arab & Muslim constituents who I know are feeling fear and anguish right now, & I have tried to reflect that empathy in my approach to this crisis. I ask the same of @RepRashida,” Slotkin posted on X.
“The phrase ‘from the river to the sea’ is one of division & violence, & it is counterproductive to promoting peace. None of us, especially elected leaders, should amplify language that inflames a tense situation & makes it harder for our communities to find common ground,” Slotkin continued. “If I knew that a phrase I’d used had hurt any of my constituents, I would apologize & retract it, no matter its origin. I’d ask the same from you.”
Instead of engaging with fellow Democrats, Tlaib chose to play the victim instead, claiming that that her colleagues were trying to “silence” her.
“It’s a shame my colleagues are more focused on silencing me than they are on saving lives, as the death toll in Gaza surpasses 10,000. Many of them have shown me that Palestinian lives simply do not matter to them, but I still do not police their rhetoric or actions,” the congresswoman wrote in a statement on Tuesday.
“Rather than acknowledge the voice and perspective of the only Palestinian American in Congress, my colleagues have resorted to distorting my positions in resolutions filled with obvious lies,” she said. “I have repeatedly denounced the horrific targeting and killing of civilians by Hamas and the Israeli government, and have mourned the Israeli and Palestinian lives lost,” Tlaib wrote.
Tlaib has already dodged one effort in Congress to censure her over her anti-Israel rhetoric. Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) accused Tlaib of “anti-semitic activity” and “sympathizing with terrorist organizations.”
The House is scheduled to vote today on another resolution by Representative Rich McCormick (R-Ga.), which is more narrowly tailored to recent events. Democratic leaders are again encouraging members to block any censure vote.
