In a recent development, the United States House of Representatives voted on two resolutions concerning Israel and the terrorist organization Hamas, revealing a split within the ranks of the far-left "Squad."
Representatives Rashida Tlaib, a Democrat from Michigan, and Cori Bush, a Democrat from Missouri, were the only members of the eight-person radical group who did not vote in favor of House Resolution 888, which reaffirmed Israel's right to exist.
Tlaib was the lone representative to vote "present" on the resolution, while Bush abstained from voting. Bush also refrained from voting on House Resolution 793, which condemned the brutal attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7 and demanded the immediate release of hostages taken during the assault. Tlaib, however, joined her "Squad" colleagues in supporting the resolution, despite her previous refusal to condemn the attack.
Following the vote, Tlaib issued a statement to Fox News Digital regarding House Resolution 888. She stated, "Both Israelis and Palestinians have the right to live with democracy, safety, peace, and human dignity." She criticized the resolution for ignoring the existence of the Palestinian people and failing to bring the two nations closer to peaceful coexistence.
Tlaib further commented, "Israel does not have a right to carry out illegal occupation and apartheidwhich will never lead to a just and lasting peace. Unfortunately, this resolution is a one-sided attempt to rewrite history, contributes to the ongoing erasure of Palestinians by not even acknowledging their existence, and fails to recognize the historical and ongoing Nakba in which countless Palestinians have been and are actively being killed, displaced, and driven from their homes."
Fox News Digital has sought a comment from Bush on the matter. Both resolutions required a two-thirds majority to pass. House Resolution 793 was unanimously passed with a 414-0 vote, while House Resolution 888 was approved with a 412-1 vote.
Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, was the only member to vote against House Resolution 888. He cited the language of the legislation as his reason for dissent, stating, "I agree with the title Reaffirming the State of Israels Right to Exist and much of the language, but Im voting No on the resolution because it equates anti-Zionism with antisemitism. Antisemitism is deplorable, but expanding it to include criticism of Israel is not helpful."
Several other members from both parties also abstained from voting on either resolution, although the reasons for their abstention remain unclear.
The general support from the "Squad" for the resolutions marks a significant shift from their stance in the aftermath of the Hamas attack. All but one member had voted against a resolution condemning antisemitism on American college campuses.
Tlaib faced severe criticism for her response to the attack after she repeatedly refused to condemn it and persisted in her debunked claim that Israel was responsible for an explosion at a Gaza hospital that reportedly killed hundreds of people.
Earlier this month, the House voted to censure Tlaib for "promoting false narratives regarding the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and for calling for the destruction of the state of Israel." Although largely symbolic, the censure served as a formal public rebuke of her comments.
Login