House Democrats Tear Into Rashida Tlaib For Denying ‘From the River to the Sea’ Is a Call For the Destruction of Israel

AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana

Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) has raised the ire of many in recent weeks over her rhetoric regarding the Israel-Hamas war, and is facing renewed criticism from within her own party after she released a short video over the weekend encouraging her supporters not to back President Joe Biden in 2024 and defending pro-Palestinian protesters chanting “from the river to the sea.”

“’From the river to the sea’ is an aspirational call for freedom, human rights, and peaceful coexistence, not death, destruction, or hate. My work and advocacy is always centered in justice and dignity for all people no matter faith or ethnicity,” Tlaib wrote on Twitter in a thread attached to her video attacking Biden.

While Tlaib, the first Palestinian-American woman elected to Congress, defended the slogan, some of her Democratic colleagues in the House were not buying it.

“I think Tlaib said from the river to the sea doesn’t mean wiping out Israel. Well, that’s what it means. You can piss on my leg, but don’t tell me it’s rain,” Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) told Axios in response.

Several House Democrats were also circulating a letter denouncing the phrase, calling it a “rallying cry for the destruction of the State of Israel and genocide of the Jewish people.” Reps. Brad Schneider (D-IL), Hillary Scholten (D-MI), and Ritchie Torres (D-NY) penned the letter that, as of Monday afternoon, was reportedly signed by Reps. Dan Goldman (D-NY) and Jared Huffman (D-CA).

The slogan has been adopted by various groups declared terrorist organizations by the U.S., including Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. “Hamas rejects any alternative to the full and complete liberation of Palestine, from the river to the sea,” reads Hamas’s 2017 constitution.

“The phrase ‘from the river to the sea’ is one of division & violence, & it is counterproductive to promoting peace. None of us, especially elected leaders, should amplify language that inflames a tense situation & makes it harder for our communities to find common ground,” wrote Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) in response to Tlaib.

Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) also took aim at Tlaib, writing, “.@RepRashida is wrong. ‘From the river to the sea’ is a call for eliminating the state of Israel that rejects a two-state solution & puts Jews in danger. We must reject extremism, no matter which side of the aisle it comes from.”

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