On Tuesday, the GOP-led House passed a resolution declaring the slogan “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” is anti-Semitic and must be condemned, the latest in a series of measures designed to express support for Israel.
Lawmakers approved the resolution, which also says the slogan is “divisive and does a disservice to Israelis, Palestinians, and all those in the region who seek peace,” by a 377-44 vote with bipartisan support.
Forty-three Democrats and one Republican — Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) — opposed the resolution. Nine members did not vote, while one — Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) — voted “present.”
Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY), a staunch Israel ally who introduced the resolution, said in floor remarks that activists who recite the slogan are anti-Semitic and only “masquerading” as pro-Palestinian advocates.
🚨BREAKING: My legislation CONDEMNING the slogan, “from the river to the sea, ‘Palestine’ will be free” has passed the House.
These antisemitic activists want nothing more than the destruction of Israel & the Jewish people inside it.
America will always #StandWithIsrael.🇮🇱🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/OfIgUI3QII
— Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (@RepDesposito) April 16, 2024
“This slogan communicates one thing and one thing only,” he said. “It is not human rights. It is certainly not peace. It is the violent destruction of the state of Israel and the Jewish people that live within it.”
The vote took place a little more than six months into Israel’s fight against Hamas in the Gaza Strip following the group’s deadly terrorist attack on Israeli soil.
Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), who is the sole Palestinian American member of Congress and is part of the leftist “Squad,” was among the 43 Democrats who opposed the resolution.
“We are seeing the same ‘messaging’ bills on the floor every single week,” Tlaib said in a post to X on Tuesday. “These bills are just an attempt to distract from the genocide in Gaza. I am not voting for any of these bills while the genocide of Palestinians continues.”
We are seeing the same "messaging" bills on the floor every single week. These bills are just an attempt to distract from the genocide in Gaza. I am not voting for any of these bills while the genocide of Palestinians continues.
— Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (@RepRashida) April 16, 2024
The House voted to censure Tlaib last year over her comments regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict. One part of the measure rebuked Tlaib for “falsely describing ‘from the river to the sea’ as ‘an aspirational call for freedom, human rights, and peaceful coexistence’ despite it clearly entailing Israel’s destruction and denial of its fundamental right to exist.”
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House lawmakers have done more than just pass resolutions tied to the Israel-Hamas conflict. They also passed a bill that would have provided Israel $14.3 billion in emergency aid with an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) offset. However, the legislation was blocked in the Democrat-controlled Senate last year.
Now, after Iran launched a drone and missile attack on Israel over the weekend, the House is poised to consider new legislation meant to provide assistance to Israel and other foreign causes. The chamber also passed a raft of Iran sanctions measures.