U.S. House censures Palestinian-American lawmaker over Israel comments

The U.S. House voted on Tuesday to censure Democratic Representative Rashida Tlaib, the only Palestinian American in Congress, for comments she made regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict.

The House voted 234 to 188 on Tuesday night to censure the three-term Democratic congresswoman from Michigan.

The motion was sponsored by Republican Representative Richard McCormick. Four Republicans voted against the motion, while three Democrats and one Republican abstained.

Twenty-two Democrats joined with most Republicans in the chamber to censure Tlaib for allegedly "promoting false narratives" on Hamas' October 7 gun rampage in Israel and "calling for the destruction of the state of Israel."

The U.S., long Israel's most fervent supporter, has resisted calls for a ceasefire, despite growing global anger over the humanitarian crisis in the densely-populated territory of 2.3 million people.

While criticizing the Israeli response and U.S. support for it, Tlaib has also repeatedly condemned Hamas's assault.

With some progressive Democrat colleagues by her side, she stressed her criticism had always been directed towards the Israeli government and its leadership under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"It is important to separate people and government," she said. "The idea that criticizing the government of Israel is anti-Semitic sets a very dangerous precedent. And it's been used to silence diverse voices speaking up for human rights across our nation."

The measure specifically cited a video Tlaib published on social media containing the phrase "from the river to the sea," a pro-Palestinian rallying cry that is viewed by many Jews as antisemitic and calling for Israel's eradication.

She also enraged many fellow Democrats on Friday when she posted a video accusing President Joe Biden of supporting "the genocide of the Palestinian people." Israel rejects accusations of genocide.

In February, House Republicans removed Minnesota representative Ilhan Omar, a Democratic ally of Tlaib, from the House Foreign Affairs Committee over previous critical comments she had made about Israel, though that vote was along party lines.

(With input from agencies)