Democratic Rep.-elect Rashida Tlaib of Michigan revealed for the first time publicly that she supports a growing anti-Israel movement, however, she remained silent on the issue until weeks after she was elected to congress.
Tlaib expressed her support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement which seeks to punish the nation-state of Israel by economically depriving the country for its alleged mistreatment of Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip and West Bank.
“I personally support the BDS movement,” Tlaib said during an interview with The Intercept published on Monday.
The BDS movement has been metastasizing through college campuses, initially promulgated by Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), and still the movement’s most visible arm. SJP has been linked to the Islamic terror group Hamas, according to The Washington Free Beacon. Moreover, The U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights, the American umbrella group of the BDS movement has reportedly given money to terrorist organizations like Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
Tlaib’s comments come in response to her rejection of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s (AIPAC) invitation to visit Israel. For decades, newly-elected members of Congress have traveled to Israel to tour the land and meet with statesmen. Rather, Tlaib has decided to forgo the tradition in lieu of a trip to what has been referred to as Palestine. Her stated goal is to “humanize Palestinians.” (RELATED: Rashida Tlaib Condemns CNN For Firing Marc Lamont Hill Over Anti-Israel Comments)
US Representative-elect Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) reacts to a good number during an office lottery for new members of Congress on Capitol Hill November 30, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Brendan Smialowski / AFP / Getty Images)
Speculation that Tlaib supported the BDS movement emerged after she urged Congress to cut the United States’ military aid to Israel, however, her stance was not confirmed until she went on record with The Intercept. The Michigan congresswoman-elect has explicitly stated her support for a one-state solution, however, according to Haaretz, prior to her midterm election one of Tlaib’s senior adviser contended that she supported a two-state solution.
The revelation that Tlaib supports anti-Israel legislation comes only weeks after fellow freshman Rep.-elect Ilhan Omar of Minnesota made the same announcement. Tlaib and Omar together are the first Muslim women elected to Congress.
Send tips to molly@dailycallernewsfoundation.org
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
