When discussing the Israel-Hamas war, it is essential to choose your words and actions carefully. This is especially true for elected U.S. officials who represent citizens from diverse backgrounds and are supposed to be leaders in stressful and tragic times. Regardless of her intentions, Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib posted harmful and antisemitic statements, and a majority of 234 representatives, including 22 Democrats, voted to censure her as a result. According to the House, a censure essentially “registers the House’s deep disapproval of member misconduct that, nevertheless, does not meet the threshold for expulsion.” While a censure is a collective expression of the House’s disapproval towards a representative, it does not have any direct consequences, nor does it hinder their law-making abilities in any way.
Censures are rare, with Tlaib becoming the 26th censured member of Congress since its establishment in 1789. The three primary ways the House can punish a member for violations of ethical standards are through reprimand, censure and expulsion. According to the House’s guide to the rules, precedents and procedures of the House, “Reprimand is appropriate for serious violations, censure is appropriate for more-serious violations, and expulsion of a Member is appropriate for the most serious violations.” The House can censure members for any reason a majority of representatives declare as worthy of the punishment. In the past, Congress has used censures for various reasons, such as Congress members assaulting other members, sexual misconduct with a House page, trading military appointments, participating in stock fraud and endorsing the Confederacy in a floor speech during the Civil War.
Tlaib is the only Palestinian-American member of Congress, with her parents immigrating to Detroit, Mich., from East Jerusalem and the West Bank. On top of her personal connection to Palestine, Tlaib’s district, which is just to the west of Detroit proper, contains the largest Muslim population in the U.S. Tlaib’s district includes many Middle Eastern immigrants, and approximately one in 14 households speak Arabic as their primary language. The population in Dearborn, a main city within the district, is nearly 55% Arab-Americans, and many businesses have signs in both English and Arabic and local public schools serve 100% halal meat. Since Hamas’ Oct. 7 unprecedented surprise attack on Israel, Dearborn has become a hot spot for protests in support of Palestine.
Considering Tlaib’s family background and the demographics of her district, it makes sense that she openly supports Palestine. I want to make it clear that I do, too. I support Palestinian lives, freedoms and their right to self-determination. I condemn the Israeli government’s treatment of innocent Palestinians. It is inhumane, unacceptable and tragic that more than 11,100 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since Oct. 7, including doctors, journalists and professors. However, I do not believe that to be pro-Palestine, you have to be anti-Israel. I believe that just like Palestine, Israel has the right to self-determination. Hamas is a terrorist organization that is attacking and killing innocent civilians by land, air and sea as I write this and as you read this. The kidnapping, torture and murder of so many Israeli civilians is horrific and devastating, and Congress members should condemn this treatment in all forms.
The video Tlaib posted on social media accused President Joe Biden of supporting the “genocide of the Palestinian people” and urged him to support a cease-fire in Gaza or jeopardize his backing in 2024. The video also included footage of a crowd chanting, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” at a pro-Palestinian protest. Many pro-Israel groups, including the Anti-Defemation League, have labeled the chant “anti-Semitic” and harmful to Jews. While Tlaib claimed the phrase is “an aspirational call for freedom, human rights and peaceful coexistence, not death, destruction, or hate,” it is crucial to keep in mind its implications, regardless of her intention when using it.
Many interpreters commonly understand the phrase as a call for the elimination of Israel, given that the Jordan River borders Israel on the east and the Mediterranean Sea borders Israel on the west. Interpreters like conservative Rep. Richard McCormick, who put forward Tlaib’s censure resolution, believe the phrase has genocidal intent. However, the phrase is open to other interpretations. Hamas claims the slogan is their rejection of Israel, and the organization’s 2017 constitution states, “Hamas rejects any alternative to the full and complete liberation of Palestine, from the river to the sea.”
I acknowledge that many Palestinians who use this phrase have good intentions and see it as a representation of their personal ties, national rights and vision for Palestine. A significant number of Palestinians recognize and define their identities based on the town or village in Palestine where they came from. This geographical association spans the land from Jericho and Safed near the Jordan River in the east to Jaffa and Haifa along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea in the west. The phrase extends beyond geography, though, as it strives to assert the national rights of Palestinians to their homeland and express a collective desire for a united Palestine as the foundation for an independent state. This intention is understandable, given the historical context of political struggles, displacement and longing for the right of self-determination.
However, it is essential to recognize the nuances of the Israel-Hamas conflict and use sensitive language in response, especially for elected officials like Tlaib. I will never argue that Tlaib does not have the right to express pro-Palestinian beliefs, especially given her background and the large amount of Palestinian constituents she represents. Still, it was wrong for her to outwardly support a phrase that many Israelis and Jews interpret as calling for the annihilation of Israel.
Acknowledging the rights of both Palestinians and Israelis in this ongoing conflict and condemning acts of violence on both sides is necessary for coming closer to achieving peace. So many Americans, including ones at Fordham, have ties to Israel and Palestine and are hurting right now, so it is essential to choose your words carefully and remain educated.
Hailey Baker, FCRH ’27, is a political science major from Gaithersburg, Md.
