As Rebcca wrote yesterday, Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) had the easiest vote before her. It was probably the biggest "gimme" she'll ever see in her career, the one where it's so unanimous you can't even get any political dividends out of it. The no-brainer vote: condemning Hamas' campaign of rape, which the world saw in their genocidal terrorist attack against Israel on October 7, 2023. It passed 418-0-1. Want to guess who opted to remain "present" for rape?
It might be one of the times when "the Squad" split right down the middle. Politicizing sexual assault was a bridge too far for Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) who voted for the resolution. It wasn't even a Republican ploy; a Democrat brought the resolution forward. Tlaib's reasoning for not voting "yea": it didn't acknowledge the sexual abuse of the Palestinians (via Detroit News):
We all have a responsibility to denounce sexual violence in all forms, regardless of who is responsible. War crimes cannot justify more war crimes. This resolution falls well short of also acknowledging the sexual abuse of Palestinians. pic.twitter.com/T4kdm1WXxk
— Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (@RepRashida) February 14, 2024
The U.S. House of Representatives voted nearly unanimously Wednesday on a resolution condemning Hamas' use of rape and sexual violence as weapons of war since its attack on Israel on Oct. 7.
The resolution, introduced by Rep. Lois Frankel, D-Florida, called for "all nations to criminalize rape and sexual assault and hold accountable all perpetrators of sexual violence, including state and non-state armed groups," according to House records.
The resolution passed with a 418 to 0 vote. U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a Democrat from Detroit, was the lone lawmaker to vote "present" during the tally, blaming the resolution for falling short of "acknowledging the sexual abuse of Palestinians."
The chutzpah in this woman is something to behold, and I don't mean that in a good way. She wasn't alone to a certain extent. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), another pro-terrorist lawmaker, didn't even vote. For Omar, it wouldn't have shocked me if she went further and voted "nay." Both women hail from districts that will never abandon them. Tlaib's entire district is virtually Dearborn, Michigan, who are at full froth with the Biden White House over their support for Israel in the Gaza War. The same applies to Omar and her power base in the Twin Cities. You can say whatever you want, especially if it veers into antisemitic territory. It's why there will be no consequences for Tlaib smirking when asked about beheaded Israeli babies. As some already noted, both women also have an anti-Israel press to provide them with cover as well:
House Dems will still protect her.
— Fusilli Spock (@awstar11) February 14, 2024
Women’s groups will not condemn her.
The DNC will still support her. https://t.co/EQV4CFDRnC
This should be a leading headline on every media channel: a US sitting congressperson refused to condemn rape.
— Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) February 15, 2024
The only sitting congressperson to not support the resolution to condemn Hamas' sexual crimes was Rashida Tlaib.
The resolution passed: 418-0-1. pic.twitter.com/hsBrWy2GGQ
Being unable to condemn rape is quite a lonely island to be on. https://t.co/y8xNIUTJKE
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) February 14, 2024
Tlaib is one of the most pro-terrorist voices on the Hill. She peddled the fake news that Israelis bombed a hospital in Gaza at the outset of the Israel-Hamas war, which was quickly debunked. The hospital was struck by an errant rocket salvo fired by Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Tlaib cited a Haaretz piece, which alleged that settler and Israeli forces were brutalizing Palestinians, allegations which included attempted sexual assault. I'm sure that is going to be weaponized by the pro-Hamas crowd, who already think the October 7 attacks were devoid of rape, beheadings, the torture of children, and wholesale slaughter of civilians. I'm in wait-and-see mode here.
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Haaretz is a left-wing newspaper that's publicly anti-Netanyahu. We've seen what happens when the world's news agencies, some of whom are unabashedly anti-Israel, take Hamas propaganda and run with it—The New York Times got a brutal lesson in that regard. Palestinians lie about atrocities, and they've been caught in the act, hence the "Pallywood" narrative. Yet, these antics are taken at face value and given credibility in the press, providing Ms. Tlaib the shield to continue her anti-Israel antics on the Hill. There is a fog of war in some regard in Gaza, but its first rule is you can't trust the Palestinian side:
after a long day of filming for pallywood😌 pic.twitter.com/Em4ZXgbvP0
— Hannah🌾🌕🐚 (@mudnorfork) February 7, 2024
This ⚠️ is how the Palestinian propaganda works:
— Era Gigman (@idan_bg) February 12, 2024
They fake the dead, Hamas issue an “official statement”, then MSM parrots the propaganda.
I don't say there are no civilian casualties in this war, but that’s Hamas to blame for using them as human shields.
Israel goes above… pic.twitter.com/XM08oIxUuX
#Pallywood ✡️🫠 pic.twitter.com/T0MpRzvNC5
— 🇮🇱(Igal Shneiurson) יגאל שניאורסון🇮🇱 (@shneiurson) February 11, 2024
Organize a group of smiling kids in front of some tents, throw a firecracker in the background and blame Israel.#Pallywood pic.twitter.com/aV1iyHV7tO
— PF (@PalestinFiction) February 8, 2024
In the meantime, Israel launched a daring rescue mission into Rafah to free two hostages, which irritated the liberal media and embarrassed the Biden administration, which has tried to rein in Israel's justified war against Hamas. The IDF is poised to invade Rafah, which I'm sure will generate more protests from Tlaib and others. In the meantime, the Biden administration is investigating Israel over a string of bombings where civilians were killed. Also, circling back to bad media coverage, did you check this Politico piece on the Rafah hostage rescue?
"The US won't punish Israel for Rafah op that doesn't protect civilians."
It's no wonder why members of Congress like Tlaib and Omar can escape accountability and criticism.
