House to vote on censure of Rep. Rashida Tlaib for Israel-Hamas war comments

The Republican-led House is set to vote Wednesday on a resolution to censure Michigan Democrat Rashida Tlaib for remarks related to Israel and Palestinians.

Republicans advanced a measure to censure Tlaib on Tuesday afternoon when the House rejected a motion to set aside a resolution filed by Georgia GOP Rep. Rich McCormick. The measure is the second attempt to formally punish Tlaib over her comments about the war.

The measure accuses Tlaib of "promoting false narratives regarding the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and for calling for the destruction of the state of Israel."

Tlaib, the only Palestinian American in Congress, has made several controversial comments about the war. She has defended her comments and says she is simply availing herself of freedom of speech.

Members from both parties have criticized her comments, but most Democrats say they do not support censure as a response.

Among the comments in question is a post on the social media site X, formerly known as Twitter, where Tlaib shared a video featuring a Palestinian slogan that has been called antisemitic.

"When you can call for the annihilation of a country and its people if that isn't censure — what is?" McCormick asked.

Tlaib responded to allegations that she shared a slogan calling for violence against Israel, saying on the House floor that she was calling for a cease-fire.

"My grandmother like all Palestinians just wants to live her life with freedom and human dignity we all deserve," she said.

The House rejected an earlier censure measure filed by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., because 23 of her Republican colleagues voted against it. Many said they disagreed with Greene's language accusing Tlaib of leading an insurrection, words which were not included in McCormick's resolution. [Copyright 2023 NPR]