Staff Reports
Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) made comments suggesting that voters should show their disapproval of President Joe Biden’s handling of the conflict in Gaza by voting in the November elections. Tlaib criticized Biden for not condemning Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s military operation in Gaza as a genocide and labeled the president as an “enabler” for his support of the Israeli government. She expressed her frustration with the Biden administration and her fellow Congress members for not standing up for Gaza and Palestinian demonstrators, calling it “cowardly.” Tlaib vowed that the voters will remember this in November.
Tlaib implies voters should protest Biden at the ballot box in November at pro-Palestinian confab https://t.co/nVSkeslfAv
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) May 27, 2024
Tlaib is known for her Palestinian heritage and has been vocal about her opposition to Biden’s policies regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict. She and her sister encouraged Michigan Democrats to vote “uncommitted” in their state’s primary as a form of protest against Biden’s stance on the conflict. Tlaib reiterated her criticism of Biden during the People’s Conference for Palestine in Detroit, where she emphasized the need for U.S. funds to be directed towards improving education in Detroit instead of supporting the war in Gaza.
Tlaib also referenced the International Court of Justice’s ruling against the Israeli government’s invasion of Rafah and accused President Biden of enabling Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and other senior officials to avoid being held accountable for their actions. She challenged Biden’s stance on the conflict and questioned where his “red line” was in condemning the Israeli government’s actions. Meanwhile, President Biden has been critical of Netanyahu’s prosecution of the war and has rejected allegations of genocide, emphasizing his administration’s support for Israel’s security against threats. He has also expressed his opposition to the International Criminal Court’s jurisdiction on the matter.
Tlaib’s comments demonstrate the deep divide within the Democratic Party over the U.S. government’s involvement in the Israel-Hamas conflict. Her criticism of President Biden reflects a growing tension within the party regarding its approach to foreign policy and support for Israel. This disapproval could potentially impact Democratic voter turnout in the upcoming elections as Tlaib and her supporters seek to hold the administration accountable for its stance on the conflict.
