Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (R-MI) on Monday announced that she would be joining other lawmakers from the Democratic Party in boycotting President Isaac Herzog’s speech before a joint session of Congress this week.
“In solidarity with the Palestinian people and all those who have been harmed by Israel's apartheid government, I will be boycotting President Herzog’s joint address to Congress,” she tweeted.
“I urge all Members of Congress who stand for human rights for all to join me,” added Tlaib.
With the announcement, Tlaib joined Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) in boycotting Herzog’s speech. All four are members of the so-called “Squad” of progressive Democrats who have opposed the US support for Israel.
Like the other lawmakers who have announced a boycott of Herzog’s speech, Tlaib has a history of anti-Israeli statements.
Tlaib claimed in an interview in 2019 that Palestinian Arabs living in the British Mandate prior to the establishment of the State of Israel “provided” a safe haven to Jews after the Holocaust.
In addition, when asked in a past television interview whether she would vote against military aid to Israel when she goes to Congress, Tlaib replied, “Absolutely.”
Last year, Tlaib blamed Israel for the death of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Aqleh, who was killed during a firefight between IDF forces and Arab terrorists in Jenin, before there was any probe to clarify whether Abu Aqleh was killed from IDF fire or from terrorist fire.
This past April, she was part of an initiative by 14 Democrats who urged the Biden administration to ensure US taxpayer funds are not supporting “Israeli settlements projects”, and to determine whether US military aid is in violation of the Arms Export Control Act or the so-called “Leahy Law.”
In the summer of 2019, Israel announced it would bar entry to Tlaib and Omar over their support for BDS.