U.S. Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) hold a news conference on August 19, 2019 in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) Representatives Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN) announced their opposition to a stand-alone bill providing $1 billion to the Israeli missile defense system Iron Dome, accusing Israel of “human rights abuses.”
Before the bill passed the House of Representatives with an overwhelming majority, Tlaib tweeted on September 23: “I will not support a standalone supplemental bill of $1 billion to replenish the bombs Israel used to commit war crimes in Gaza.” A day earlier, she also tweeted that she was going to vote against it to “stop enabling Israel’s human rights abuses and apartheid government.” Tlaib reiterated her allegations of Israeli war crimes and apartheid on the floor of the House of Representatives prior to the vote.
I plan on casting a no vote.
We must stop enabling Israel's human rights abuses and apartheid government. https://t.co/2ewRJDe7uK
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) September 23, 2021
I plan on casting a no vote.
We must stop enabling Israel's human rights abuses and apartheid government. https://t.co/2ewRJDe7uK
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) September 23, 2021
Tlaib says she's voting no because Iron Dome supports Israeli "war crimes" and "apartheid system." Adds that the conversation should be about protecting Palestinians from Israelis as well.
— Marc Rod (@marcrod97) September 23, 2021
Omar similarly tweeted, “Given the human rights violations in Gaza, Sheikh Jarrah, and ever-growing settlement expansion, we should not be ramming through a last-minute $1 billion increase in military funding for Israel without any accountability.” In subsequent tweets, she alleged that the $1 billion in funding “was added without the knowledge or consent of relevant committee chairs or proper budgeting” and that the $1 billion would be in addition to the $73 million that Congress already allocated toward the Iron Dome.”
Given the human rights violations in Gaza, Sheikh Jarrah, and ever-growing settlement expansion, we should not be ramming through a last-minute $1 billion increase in military funding for Israel without any accountability.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) September 23, 2021
As my colleague, @BettyMcCollum04 has pointed out, this language was added without the knowledge or consent of relevant committee chairs or proper budgeting.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) September 23, 2021
This vote is not about simply funding the Iron Dome. It’s about adding an extra billion dollars on top of the $73 million we already allocated this year. That’s 14 times more than we normally spend on it and 60% of what we’ve provided for it over the course of a decade.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) September 23, 2021
Representative Ted Deutch (D-FL) condemned Tlaib on the floor of the House.
“I cannot allow one of my colleagues to stand on the floor of the House of Representatives and label the Jewish state of Israel an apartheid state,” Deutch said. “I reject it.” He went onto say that those who make false characterizations about Israel “is consistent with those who advocate for the dismantling of the one Jewish state in the world and when there is no place on the map for one Jewish state, that’s antisemitism. And I reject that.”
Wow. Just now, Florida Democrat @TedDeutch ripped into @RashidaTlaib's tirade attacking Israel on the House floor:#IronDome pic.twitter.com/Oxz2bWmTcA
— Sia Kordestani (@SiaKordestani) September 23, 2021
Both members of “The Squad” came under fire on Twitter.
“You know the truth but choose to ignore it,” Israeli Ambassador to the United States and United Nations Gilad Erdan tweeted to Tlaib. “The Iron Dome protects Israel against Hamas’ war crimes including its indiscriminate firing of rockets at civilians. The U.S. has declared Hamas a terror organization – your actions help to protect terrorists against a democracy!”
You know the truth but choose to ignore it. The Iron Dome protects Israel against Hamas' war crimes including its indiscriminate firing of rockets at civilians. The U.S. has declared Hamas a terror organization – your actions help to protect terrorists against a democracy! https://t.co/F2Wpw0VmB4
— Ambassador Gilad Erdan גלעד ארדן (@giladerdan1) September 23, 2021
“Here’s what @RashidaTlaib is really saying: Let Hamas & Hezbollah fire deadly rockets at will against 9 million Israelis—Jewish, Muslim, Christian… Let these terror groups pursue their aim of genocide. Deny Israel the right to defend itself,” American Jewish Committee CEO David Harris tweeted. “SAY NO TO HER UNBRIDLED HATRED.”
Here’s what @RashidaTlaib is really saying:
Let Hamas & Hezbollah fire deadly rockets at will against 9 million Israelis—Jewish, Muslim, Christian…
Let these terror groups pursue their aim of genocide.
Deny Israel the right to defend itself.
SAY NO TO HER UNBRIDLED HATRED. https://t.co/blNE5imUYV
— David Harris (@DavidHarrisNY) September 23, 2021
Judea Pearl, Chancellor Professor of Computer Science at UCLA, National Academy of Sciences member and Daniel Pearl Foundation President, tweeted to Tlaib: “Anyone who’s obsessed with ‘Israel Apartheid’ has a problem with Israel’s birth, not with ‘rights.’”
Poor @RashidaTlaib! Why is everyone jumping on her for being inconsistent on "human rights". Anyone who's obsessed with "Israel Apartheid" has a problem with Israel's birth, not with "rights." https://t.co/LQuuQXxL2D.@JGreenblattADL, https://t.co/kLt0CE6AMW
— Judea Pearl (@yudapearl) September 23, 2021
Journalist David Collier tweeted: “It is clear that @RashidaTlaib wants war and bloodshed. It’s as easy as ABC. A. The Iron Dome saves Israeli lives. B. Which means Israel is not compelled to invade Gaza to stop Hamas rockets. C. Which means Iron Dome prevents war and saves both Israeli and Palestinian lives.”
It is clear that @RashidaTlaib wants war and bloodshed.
It's as easy as ABC.
A. The Iron Dome saves Israeli lives.
B. Which means Israel is not compelled to invade Gaza to stop Hamas rockets.
C. Which means Iron Dome prevents war and saves both Israeli and Palestinian lives.— David Collier (@mishtal) September 23, 2021
AIPAC tweeted to both Tlaib and Omar, “By voting against Iron Dome, you’re voting against protecting civilians from terrorism. You’re voting for more war, more destruction, and more Israeli and Palestinian lives lost.”
By voting against Iron Dome, you’re voting against protecting civilians from terrorism.
You’re voting for more war, more destruction, and more Israeli and Palestinian lives lost. https://t.co/KMw2pjYCeg
— AIPAC (@AIPAC) September 23, 2021
Human rights lawyer Arsen Ostrovsky, CEO of the International Legal Forum, tweeted to Omar, “Stop lying. Are you really filled with so much hatred and indifference to Jewish lives (and for that matter, Palestinian too), that you would rather see Hamas fire rockets at Israel and murder innocent people, only prolonging the violence? Are you really that heartless?”
Stop lying. Are you really filled with so much hatred and indifference to Jewish lives (and for that matter, Palestinian too), that you would rather see Hamas fire rockets at Israel and murder innocent people, only prolonging the violence? Are you really that heartless? #IronDome
— Arsen Ostrovsky (@Ostrov_A) September 23, 2021
Former United States Ambassador to the United Nations tweeted, “The same people who call for Israel’s restraint against terrorist groups that fire rockets at Israeli civilians are now opposed to funding the Iron Dome. The Iron Dome saves both Israeli and Palestinian lives. Without it, there will only be more terror and violence.”
The same people who call for Israel's restraint against terrorist groups that fire rockets at Israeli civilians are now opposed to funding the Iron Dome.
The Iron Dome saves both Israeli and Palestinian lives. Without it, there will only be more terror and violence.
— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) September 22, 2021
IfNotNow and Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) defended Tlaib and Omar. IfNotNow accused Deutch of “anti-Palestinian racism,” arguing that he shouldn’t “tell a Palestinian woman what she is and isn’t allowed to call the oppression and dispossession that Palestinians have endured through Israeli policies. It’s apartheid.”
This is a perfect example of anti-Palestinian racism in American politics.
How dare Rep. Deutsch tell a Palestinian woman what she is and isn't allowed to call the oppression and dispossession that Palestinians have endured through Israeli policies.
It's apartheid. https://t.co/RftAeaNdSC
— IfNotNow🔥 (@IfNotNowOrg) September 23, 2021
JVP, which supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, thanked Omar for being “one of a small number of members of Congress who are willing to truly stand up for human rights and safety for ALL people – no exceptions.”
.@IlhanMN is one of a small number of members of Congress who are willing to truly stand up for human rights and safety for ALL people – no exceptions.
Thank you for your leadership, Congresswoman. https://t.co/qnRHfX8cNj
— Jewish Voice for Peace Action (@JvpAction) September 23, 2021
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