US Congress blocks proposed censure of Rashida Tlaib for criticising Israel

Lawmakers in the House of Representatives at the US Congress voted yesterday to block a resolution to censure Representative Rashida Tlaib (Democrat, Michigan) for her criticism of Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip. Twenty-three Republicans joined the Democrats to ensure that the censure motion went no further.

The vote was somewhat of a surprise because Tlaib, a staunch liberal critical of Israel, has few admirers in the Republican Party when it comes to Middle East policy. It is not clear why many Republicans came to her rescue during Wednesday’s vote, according to The Hill, a website close to Congress.

The censure resolution — sponsored by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia.) — also accused Tlaib of “leading an insurrection” for her participation in an anti-war protest last month at the Capitol organised by Jewish advocacy groups at which there were dozens of arrests.

Many Democrats criticised Greene for her inaccurate description of the peaceful — albeit noisy — protest and for claiming that Tlaib had played a role in organising it. They also expressed concern that Greene’s “insurrection” claim downplayed the 6 January 2021 attack on the US Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump.

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