Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN) released a joint statement condemning anti-Palestinian sentiment in U.S. politics.
Along with the third Muslim in Congress, Andre Carson (D-IN), the two condemned the “growing tide of bigoted anti-Muslim, anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian hate pervading our politics.” The statement was aimed at Rep. Ryan Zinke’s (R-MO) recent resolution to bar immigrants from Palestinian territories from entering the United States and to revoke the visas of others. The statement decried the move as “fascism and pure bigotry.”
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“Let’s be clear: using the full power of the state to target and persecute a particular ethnic group or nationality is fascism and pure bigotry,” the statement went.
It added, “This legislation — by a former cabinet official no less — directly violates the U.S. Constitution, and would illegally destroy the lives of the hundreds of thousands of Palestinian immigrants who live in and contribute to American society. Though intended to target Muslims, this bill will also hurt Palestinian Christians, who will be targeted by these provisions. History will harshly judge this xenophobic, punitive and unconstitutional measure.”
The trio pointed to statements from four congressional Republicans in recent weeks about Palestinians, including inflammatory comments from Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Reps. Max Miller (R-OH) and Brian Mast (R-FL).
“Unfortunately, this legislation is part of a growing tide of bigoted anti-Muslim, anti-Arab and anti Palestinian hate pervading our politics,” it continued. “Senator Lindsey Graham went on national television to declare a ‘religious war and said we should ‘level’ the Gaza Strip. Senator Marco Rubio, when asked specifically about avoiding civilian casualties in Gaza, said Israel cannot co-exist with quote ‘these savages…they have to be eradicated.’ Max Miller said Gaza was going to be ‘turned into a parking lot.’ Just last week, Representative Brian Mast questioned the very idea that Palestinian civilians exist and compared them to Nazis.”
The statement concluded by calling on both sides to condemn the inflammatory rhetoric against Palestinians and vote against related legislation.
Omar and Tlaib have both been accused of using inflammatory rhetoric against Israel and Jewish people, with the latter being the target of the most criticism, particularly after refusing to retract statements accusing Israel of intentionally bombing a Gaza hospital, claims that were soon debunked. Republicans have called for her to be censured or a House Ethics Committee investigation.
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“Representative Rashida Tlaib has a long history of making antisemitic remarks since becoming a Member of Congress,” Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) said in a statement calling for an ethics investigation against her.
She added, “The Congresswoman has made multiple dangerous comments erroneously referring to Israel as an ‘apartheid’ and ‘racist’ state, accusing the Government of Israel of ‘ethnic cleansing’ against Palestinians, and she has claimed that Israel is ‘promoting racism and dehumanization.’ I condemn Representative Tlaib’s repulsive actions and remarks and wholeheartedly believe that they are contributing to the rise in violent actions against American Jewish communities.”
