Speaking on an episode of Yahoo News’ “Skullduggery” podcast that was released Friday, Michigan Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib made the outrageous claim that the Palestinians created a “safe haven for Jews” after the Holocaust.
.@RashidaTlaib, your words are both grossly #antiSemitic and ignorant. You should take some time to learn the history before trying to rewrite it.https://t.co/qHIVnsrNHy
— Ambassador Danny Danon | דני דנון (@dannydanon) May 12, 2019
President Trump also criticized Talib for her comments.
Democrat Rep. Tlaib is being slammed for her horrible and highly insensitive statement on the Holocaust. She obviously has tremendous hatred of Israel and the Jewish people. Can you imagine what would happen if I ever said what she said, and says?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 13, 2019
The Representative for Wyoming Liz Cheney tweeted a call for the Democratic party to react.
Surely now @SpeakerPelosi & @LeaderHoyer will finally take action against vile anti-Semitism in their ranks. This must cross the line, even for them. Rashida Tlaib says thinking of the Holocaust provides her a “calming feeling” https://t.co/opUUNEol2d
— Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) May 12, 2019
Rather than apologize for her egregious remarks that were deeply insulting to Jews, Tlaib lashed out at her critics, saying that her remarks were the “truth.”
Policing my words, twisting & turning them to ignite vile attacks on me will not work. All of you who are trying to silence me will fail miserably. I will never allow you to take my words out of context to push your racist and hateful agenda. The truth will always win.
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) May 13, 2019
Her office released an official statement in which she accused the Republican leadership of being “dangerous” and the Republican party of reaching “a new low.”
Statement on lies being spread regarding Congresswoman Tlaib’s appearance on Yahoo’s SkullDuggery Podcast. pic.twitter.com/fBASeibLwV
— Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (@RepRashida) May 13, 2019
She also claimed that any criticism of her comments were generated by racism.
It’s more than just silencing a member of Congress. They are using my faith & ethnic background to promote their hate agenda that leads to more violence. The GOP has no policy agenda, and continues to enable a lawless President who doesn’t care about protecting our democracy. https://t.co/AHruTwMxjd
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) May 13, 2019
Rather than remonstrate or instruct the rookie congressman, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi called for the president to apologize.
Republicans’ desperate attempts to smear @RepRashida & misrepresent her comments are outrageous. President @realDonaldTrump & House GOP should apologize to Rep. Tlaib & the American people for their gross misrepresentations.
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) May 13, 2019
The junior United States Senator from Vermont and Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders also rebuked President Trump for his criticism of Tlaib.
Mr. President: Stop dividing the American people up by their religion, their race or their country of origin–and stop your ugly attacks against Muslim women in Congress. You are taking Rep. @RashidaTlaib‘s comments out of context and should apologize. https://t.co/QlYNn46zXQ
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) May 13, 2019
Tlaib’s comments make the historically absurd claim that the Jews took the land away from the Palestinians. There has never in history been an independent political entity known as Palestine. This makes her claim that “some people lost their passports” even more absurd. A true depiction of historical events would recognize that there has been an uninterrupted Jewish presence for at least 3,000 years in the area now known as Israel.
Her comments also ignore that the roots of Palestinian nationalism were in the alliance between Palestinian leader and Mufti of Jerusalem Haj Amin al-Husseini and the Nazis during World War II.
