15.27 EST
'We cannot lose our shared humanity' Tlaib says, as House leads towards censure

In remarks on the House floor minutes after Democrats failed to block an effort to censure her for remarks her detractors say disparaged Israel, progressive Rashida Tlaib defended her criticism of the country and urged lawmakers to join in calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

“I will not be silenced and I will not let you distort my words,” Tlaib said. “No government is beyond criticism. The idea that criticizing the government of Israel is antisemitic sets a very dangerous precedent, and it’s been used to silence diverse voices speaking up for human rights across our nation.”

Tlaib, who was first elected in 2018 and is a prominent member of “The Squad” of progressive female lawmakers, grew emotional as she said, “I can’t believe I have to say this, but Palestinian people are not disposable.”

She continued by saying she was against attacks on both Israeli and Palestinian civilians alike:

The cries of the Palestinian and Israeli children sound no different to me. What I don’t understand is why the cries of Palestinians sound different to you all. We cannot lose our shared humanity, Mr. Chair. I hear the voices of advocates in Israel and Palestine across America and around the world for peace.

I’m inspired by … the courageous survivors in Israel who have lost loved ones, yet are calling for a ceasefire and the end to violence. I am grateful to the people in the streets for the peace movement with countless Jewish Americans across the country standing up and lovingly saying ‘not in our name’.

We will continue to call for a ceasefire, Mr. Chair, for the immediate delivery of critical humanitarian aid to Gaza, for the release of all hostages and those arbitrarily detained and for every American to come home. We will continue to work for real, lasting peace that uphold human rights and dignity of all people and centers … peaceful coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians and censures no one – no one – and ensures that no person, no child has to suffer or live in fear of violence.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2023/nov/07/election-day-latest-voting-abortion-virginia-kentucky-ohio-live-updates?page=with:block-654a9b928f08a667a2c26e9c#block-654a9b928f08a667a2c26e9c |

Two mistakes: first, putting your faith in an empire in the hope of seeing justice. The United States is not about justice. It is about money and control for the oligarchy. Right now that means the state murder of Palestinian children. We have a long history of genocide, here, too. Second mistake, thinking that the U.S. government would act independently of Israeli wishes. Israel runs this place. America is Israel’s proxy.