Newly elected Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib, the first Palestinian-American woman to serve in Congress, doesn’t appear to be concerned about allegations of antisemitism, judging by the way she behaved as the government’s bicameral legislature returned to session Thursday.
First, she announced that she would be sworn in with a Koran while adorned in a Palestinian gown:
“It’s important to me because a lot of Americans have this kind of feeling that Islam is somehow foreign to American history,” Tlaib said about her swearing-in. “Muslims were there at the beginning … Some of our Founding Fathers knew more about Islam than some members of Congress now.”
Then someone reportedly stuck a Post-It note labeled with the word “Palestine” onto the world map in her office, according to Buzzfeed’s Hannah Allam. The note appeared to cover up almost all of Israel.
Look:
Someone has already made a slight alteration to the map that hangs in Rashida Tlaib’s new congressional office. pic.twitter.com/mwyshIog4r
— Hannah Allam (@HannahAllam) January 3, 2019
The note, in particular, drew widespread concern on social media due to Tlaib’s connections to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign, an insidious anti-Israel movement whose members believe that the world’s only Jewish nation-state shouldn’t exist.
“Many of the founding goals of the BDS movement, including denying the Jewish people the universal right of self-determination — along with many of the strategies employed in BDS campaigns — are anti-Semitic,” the Anti-Defamation League notes.
“Many individuals involved in BDS campaigns are driven by opposition to Israel’s very existence as a Jewish state. Often time, BDS campaigns give rise to tensions in communities – particularly on college campuses – that can result in harassment or intimidation of Jews and Israel supporters.”
Observe social media’s reaction to the Post-It note below:
so supporting the elimination of Israel is but a “slight alteration”?
— e_michael ??? (@e_michael1) January 3, 2019
Is this real? If so this is highly irresponsible and inappropriate for a Congressperson, regardless of one’s personal opinions.
— Mike Hawk (@diqfor) January 3, 2019
HIGHLY inappropriate.
— DannyJ (@GreyHouseDan) January 3, 2019
Anti-Semite gonna anti-Semite.
— Zach (@zcr86) January 3, 2019
Is she an American congresswoman or a Palestinian one? I’m confused. Did she get elected in America for her views on Palestine? Maybe focus on your constituents here instead of representing foreign countries in the US Congress? Or don’t. What do I care.
— Billy Harris (@BillyTH3) January 3, 2019
Following her election to Congress two months ago, Tlaib endorsed BDS.
Rashida Tlaib, with Linda Sarsour by her side, entering congress today and already changing world maps. This was the candidate originally supported by JStreet because she “supported a 2 state solution.” After primaries, she declared she supports BDS and the end of Israel. pic.twitter.com/Z6V6sGMW40
— e_michael ??? (@e_michael1) January 3, 2019
“I personally support the BDS movement,” she said last month. “I want us to see that segregation and how that has really harmed us being able to achieve real peace in that region.”
Except that the actions and rhetoric of BDS and its allies — including notoriously antisemitic left-wing political activist Linda Sarsour, who happens to be a close friend of Miss Tlaib (see picture below) — have made it clear the group has no interest in peace.
The scene outside Rashida Tlaib’s new office as she awaits her swearing in this morning. Linda Sarsour is here, comedian Mo Amer, Arab American activists, 100 kids from Detroit arrived by bus. #congress pic.twitter.com/uXbCYJnYu0
— Hannah Allam (@HannahAllam) January 3, 2019
In fact, last year BDS founder Omar Barghouti reportedly openly admitted, “Palestinians and Arabs in general have never, and will never recognize Israel as a Jewish state.”
As it turns out, Tlaib isn’t the only Muslim Congresswoman who aligns with BDS. Newly elected Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, the first-ever Somali American who was also elected to office on Thursday, does as well.
“Ilhan believes in and supports the BDS movement, and has fought to make sure people’s right to support it isn’t criminalized,” her campaign said last November. “She does however, have reservations on the effectiveness of the movement in accomplishing a lasting solution.”
But her own rhetoric indicates she has no interest in “a lasting solution,” unless of course it involves the elimination of Israel, as noted by social media:
Israel has hypnotized the world, may Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel. #Gaza #Palestine #Israel
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) November 16, 2012
This horrific woman is now a member of Congress
The mainstreaming of #AntiSemitism continues apace https://t.co/6gbpleIegR
— Cameron Gray (@Cameron_Gray) January 3, 2019
All that hate, bitterness, & vitriol seems to be oozing from your pores. It’s interesting that so many have been duped by your religion of peace. There’s nothing peaceful about Islam but rather a purveyor of intolerance, violence unless we subscribe to this crap.
— LocalGirl ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@kepola808) January 3, 2019
Actually the opposite is true. Palestine has pulled the wool over the eyes of much of the world into believing that you and your ilk want peace. Nothing could be further from the truth and you people are pure evil!
— michael d. burke (@michaeldburke1) January 3, 2019
?? Loves Israel. You’re very wrong for approaching a situation that requires LOVE with such vitriol toward people. If you want peace, then beget peace.
— ZΞN 7ΞVΞN (@DoppelSoup) January 3, 2019
Palestine needs to recognize right of existence for Isreal n peace will be theirs! Hamas stop killing innocent civilians Hamas! America stands for peace in Middle East n with Isreal, the areas only state that recognized woman rights with 20% Arab population
— William Harvin (@wharvin) January 3, 2019
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