US Information
By way of Melissa Koenig
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April 17, 2024, 1:14 p.m. ET
The Area of Representatives overwhelmingly handed a answer Tuesday condemning the motto “From the river to the ocean, Palestine might be unfastened” as antisemitic.
The symbolic measure handed the GOP-controlled chamber 377-44 — with 43 Democrats and Republican Thomas Massie of Kentucky vote casting towards it.
Some other Democrat, Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania, voted “provide.”
The Area of Representatives has handed a answer condemning using the word “From the river to the ocean, Palestine might be unfastened” as antisemitic. Jonah Elkowitz for NY Put up
The word has been chanted at universities and anti-Israel rallies round the United States since Hamas attacked the Jewish state on Oct. 7, killing an estimated 1,200 other people, together with 33 American citizens.
Critics say the motto, which refers back to the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, is a decision for the eradication of Israel and its other people.
The answer, offered in November through Lengthy Island Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY) and co-sponsored through Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.), mentioned the slogan “seeks to disclaim Jewish other people the correct to self-determination” and famous its use as a “rallying cry” through terror teams together with Hamas, Hezbollah and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
“[A]nyone who requires the eradication of Israel and the Jewish persons are antisemitic and will have to all the time be condemned,” the answer concluded.
Amongst those that voted “nay” have been so-called Squad individuals Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), Cori Bush (D-Mo.) and Area Innovative Caucus chair Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.).
Woke Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) additionally voted towards the answer — months after she used to be censured for her harsh rhetoric towards Israel, together with repeated use of the word.
The measure used to be offered through Lengthy Island Republican Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, who has argued that “antisemitic activists” who use the word “need not anything greater than the destruction of Israel and the Jewish other people within it.” Getty Pictures
On the time, Tlaib referred to as the slogan “an aspirational name for freedom, human rights, and non violent coexistence, no longer demise, destruction, or hate.”
Dean defined her “provide” vote through claiming she believes the word “has no position in discussing long-term peace for Israel and Palestine,” however added she would no longer make stronger Republican “video games.”
“Republicans favor video games over expenses to make stronger our allies and humanitarian support,” she wrote on X.
“We will have to be functional with our phrases — and likewise with our time.”
Woke Squad individuals Reps. Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib voted towards the measure. CQ-Roll Name, Inc by means of Getty Pictures
Queens Rep. Gregory Meeks, the highest Democrat at the Area Overseas Affairs Committee, mentioned he concept the answer used to be an try to divide Democrats, consistent with the Hill.
However Meeks added that he felt he needed to vote in prefer of the answer as a result of he is aware of “the risk of the word.”
“If you happen to imagine the geographic house of the Jordan River and Mediterranean Sea to be completely Palestine, you’re taking the Jewish state of Israel off the map,” Meeks mentioned at the Area flooring as he prompt his fellow Democrats to vote in prefer of the answer.
The word has been chanted at universities and rallies across the nation since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7. AP
Gottheimer agreed, writing on X: “As individuals of Congress, we’ve got a proper — and a duty — to sentence disgusting, divisive and dehumanizing chants.
“I’m proud to have handed my answer with [D’Esposito] and [Moskowitz],” he added.
D’Esposito additionally declared on social media that “The us will all the time #StandWithIsrael.”
In New York Town, in the meantime, Councilwoman Inna Vernikov mentioned the passage of the answer will put “pro-Hamas protesters” on realize.
“Not more excuses, [like] it’s a decision for self-determination in Palestine,” she posted. “It’s a decision for Jewish genocide and [the] removing of the one Jewish state.”
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