Another mainstream Democrat is fed up with the radical ramblings of pro-Palestinian Rep. Rashida Tlaib, and is looking to hold her accountable for her anti-Semitism while rallying Jewish lawmakers to have a more unified voice on Capitol Hill.
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz on Sunday denounced Tlaib’s defense of a video that referenced a slogan interpreted as calling for the elimination of Israel.
As the Tampa Free Press reported on Monday, Tlaib told President Joe Biden in the video that “the American people are not with you on this one,” in reference to U.S. support for Israel to strike back after the terrorist group Hamas killed more than 1,400 Israelis in an Oct. 7 attack.
Tlaib’s video included text that asserted Biden “supported the genocide of Palestinian people,” and contained clips of Palestinian supporters chanting “from the river to the sea,” a common phrase among Hamas supporters referring to the annihilation of the Jewish state.
Tlaib tried to clarify the video, posting on X (formerly Twitter), “From the river to the sea is an aspirational call for freedom, human rights, and peaceful coexistence, not death, destruction, or hate. My work and advocacy is always centered in justice and dignity for all people no matter faith or ethnicity.”
Wasserman Schultz, a Fort Lauderdale Democrat, didn’t buy it.
“This phrase means eradicating Israel and Jews. Period,” she replied to Tlaib on X.
“Dressing it up in a new PR ploy won’t change that. Only a return of hostages, eliminating Hamas and liberating Gaza from oppressive terror will save civilian lives and secure the peace, justice and dignity you seek.”
Yet Wasserman Schultz did not stop there.
Axios reported on Monday that Wasserman Schultz filed paperwork with the House Administration Committee last week to recognize a new caucus for Jewish lawmakers.
Such an official caucus for Jewish members would reflect the other Democratic groups for minorities, including the Congressional Black, Hispanic and Asian Pacific Islander caucuses.
The twist for Wasserman Schultz, who was one of five Jewish Democrats who voted with Republicans for a $14.3 billion military aid package for Israel funded by cuts to the IRS , is that her group would include the two Republicans who are Jewish.
“The caucus will be open for all Jewish Members to join,” Schultz told Axios.
“There are Jewish House members working together to form a Jewish caucus that will allow us to approach issues and matters before Congress through a Jewish perspective and to help prioritize issues important to the American Jewish community,” Schultz added.
It’s become “increasingly evident that we need a seat at the table on matters that are critical to our communities,” she said.
Axios noted that Rep. Brad Schneider, D-Ill., said the caucus is “not about Israel, this is about Jewish members of Congress.” He cited the “anti-Semitic calls and letters” lawmakers have received as a reason why such a group is needed.
Some unnamed Democrats told Axios that Wasserman Schultz’s plan will be “contentious” among Democrats because many Jewish Democrats are not as pro-Israel as she is.
Yet Axios also reported that since Hamas’ attack on Israel, an informal group of Jewish lawmakers “has enjoyed unusual unity, with all two dozen members signing onto statements denouncing the attack and praising President Biden’s leadership in the Middle East.”
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