“Squad” Rep. Rashida Tlaib has been named the 2023 “Antisemite of the Year” by the nonprofit watchdog for her comments on Israel following the October 7 Hamas attack — with the Democratic lawmaker beating out an Islamic terrorist leader and model Gigi Hadid for the title.
“Congressman Tlaib’s well-received insults reflect a long history of antisemitism, but his remarks after the October 7 Hamas attack were unwarranted,” StopAntisemitism posted on X Monday.
“Not only does he blame Israel, but he also accuses it of genocide against the Palestinian people and continues to defend calls to ethnically cleanse Israel of Jews through genocide.”
The organization, which says its goal is to expose “groups and individuals who support incitement against the Jewish people and the State and engage in antisemitic behavior,” cited the Michigan Democrat’s ongoing criticism of Israel.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib has been named “Antisemite of the Year” 2023 by the group StopAntisemitism. AFP via Getty Images
In October, Tlaib faced backlash for wrongly accusing the Israel Defense Forces of bombing a Gaza hospital, despite evidence showing it had actually been hit by an errant Palestinian Islamic Jihad missile.
Detroit-born Tlaib, the first Palestinian-American elected to Congress, has called for an independent investigation into the bombing – saying he “cannot uncritically accept Israel’s denial of responsibility as fact.”
“Both the governments of Israel and the United States have long documented histories of misleading the public about war and war crimes — such as last year’s Israeli military killing of Shireen Abu Akleh and the false allegations of weapons of mass destruction that led our country into the Iraq War — and cannot absolve themselves of responsibility without an independent international investigation,” he said at the time.
In early November, Tlaib also accused President Biden of supporting the “massacre” of Palestinians and warned in a video posted on X that voters “will not forget” in 2024.
The organization said it singled out Tlaib for “inconsideration” after the Oct. 7 statements. Getty Images
Just days later, he faced criticism online for defending protesters who chanted, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”
he insisted that the chant is “an aspirational call for freedom, human rights, and peaceful coexistence,” although the Anti-Defamation League insists that it is a call to eliminate the state of Israel in its present form between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, as well as the American Public Affairs Committee- Israel (AIPAC) says the phrase reflects a literal call for the genocide of Jews.
For defending the hate speech, Tlaib was censured by the House of Representatives, with 22 of them following Democrats voting with 212 Republicans to do so.
Tlaib was condemned by the House of Representatives after he defended the chant “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” Getty Images
It was later revealed that Tlaib was part of a hidden Facebook group that had praised the Hamas jihadists who kidnapped and killed hundreds of civilians in Israel – including at least 39 Americans.
The founder of the group “Palestinian American Congress” has referred to Israel as not “real Jews” and questioned whether the Holocaust really happened, according to Fox News.
Recently, members of the “Squad” went on a rampage against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling the leader of the Jewish state a “genocidal maniac” in a social media post.
The Post has reached out to Tlaib’s office for comment.
The group said Tlaib’s comments following the October 7 Hamas attack “were inappropriate.” AFP via Getty Images
StopAntisemitism awarded Tlaib the title over finalist Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, and model Hadid, who falsely claimed in November that Israel was “the only country in the world that takes children as prisoners of war.”
Executive director Liora Rez told the Jerusalem Post in a statement that the three finalists “exhibit the depth and breadth of contemporary antisemitism.”
But while announcing Tlaib as the winner, Rez noted Tlaib’s status as a member of Congress.
“This is a historically dangerous time for American Jews,” he said.
“Amid the explosion in antisemitic incidents and hate crimes, we cannot afford to ask our elected representatives to add fuel to the fire!”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
