The Tuesday votes in the House of Representatives, which focused on reaffirming Israel’s right to exist and condemning the terrorist group Hamas, exposed divisions within the far-left “Squad.”
In a House vote centered on Israel’s existence, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich, and Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., were the only members of the eight-person group known as the ‘Squad’ who did not vote in favor of H. Res. 888.
Tlaib votes for resolution along with ‘squad’ members
Tlaib chose to vote ‘present,’ while Bush did not vote. Additionally, Rep. Bush did not vote on H. Res. 793, which condemned Hamas’ attack on Israel.
However, Rep. Tlaib joined her fellow ‘Squad’ members in voting for the resolution despite her refusal to condemn the attack.
Following the vote, Tlaib expressed her views to Fox News Digital in a statement regarding H. Res. 888. She stated, “Both Israelis and Palestinians have the right to live with democracy, safety, peace, and human dignity.”
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Tlaib critiques resolution for ignoring Palestinian rights
Tlaib emphasized that the resolution failed to acknowledge the existence of the Palestinian people and did not contribute to peaceful coexistence.
She highlighted the importance of recognizing Palestinians’ right to coexist with Israelis in their historic homeland with equal rights and freedom, opposing racial segregation or subjugation as second-class citizens.
According to her, the resolution did not adequately address these concerns.
Tlaib condemns resolution as ‘one-sided,’ addresses Palestinian concerns
Tlaib asserted, “Israel’s illegal occupation and apartheid won’t lead to lasting peace.” She criticized the resolution as one-sided, accusing it of erasing Palestinians and ignoring their historical suffering.
H. Res. 793 passed 414-0, and H. Res. 888 passed 412-1, requiring a two-thirds majority. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., was the sole “No” vote on H. Res. 888, citing concerns with its language.
“I support the title ‘Reaffirming the State of Israel’s Right to Exist’ and much of the language, but I voted ‘No’ on the resolution because it conflates anti-Zionism with antisemitism.”
“While antisemitism is deplorable, extending it to include criticism of Israel is not constructive,” he explained in a post on X after the vote.
The Squad’s shift in stance on resolutions
In addition to Bush, several members from both parties also abstained from voting on either resolution, although the reasons for their abstentions were unclear.
The “Squad’s” overall support for these resolutions appears to mark a notable shift from their earlier stance in the weeks following Hamas’ attack when nearly all members voted against a resolution condemning antisemitism on American college campuses.
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Tlaib criticized for response to Gaza hospital explosion
Tlaib faced significant criticism for her response to the attack, as she repeatedly refused to condemn it and persisted in her discredited claim that Israel was responsible for the explosion at a Gaza hospital, which reportedly resulted in the deaths of hundreds of people.
Earlier this month, the House voted to censure Tlaib for “promoting false narratives regarding the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and for advocating the destruction of the state of Israel.” While the censure is mainly symbolic, it serves as a formal public reprimand for her statements.
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