Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) argued that recent comments she made on "the river to the sea" in light of the Israel-Hamas conflict have resulted in the "distortion of my words" in the wake of Congress censuring her.
Tlaib recently defended her comments, a reference to the land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, arguing last week that it is an "aspirational call for freedom."
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While appearing on MSNBC, she was asked if any members of Congress had spoken to her since the House censure vote. Tlaib said that such members can "come and talk to me about this" and that her colleagues "know where my heart is."
"And, you know, much of what I am seeing is distortion of my words," Tlaib said Wednesday. "Also, in trying to silence my residents who have been calling from the beginning of freedom. Freedom from inequality. Freedom from the occupation. Freedom from the violence. And so it has been really difficult, I think, for me, as I walk on the House floor, walking there, watching many of the colleagues that voted for this, not engage me, and they know I'm ready."
Tlaib, who is Palestinian, also asked her colleagues not to distort the words "of my residents," adding that many advocating for the Palestinian people are focused on coexistence between Gaza and Israel. She stated that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not calling for coexistence between the two countries, and neither is his government, which she called the "most extremist government" in Israel's history.
"He’s going to the United Nations, and basically showing maps where Palestinians don’t exist," Tlaib said. "And so I wish my colleagues would call out that."
The House of Representatives voted on Wednesday to censure Tlaib by a vote of 234-188, punishing the Michigan Democrat for “promoting false narratives” about the Oct. 7 attack against Israel by the Hamas militant group and allegedly calling for the “destruction of the state of Israel.” A total of 22 Democrats joined almost all Republicans in joining the censure.
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The motion to censure was made by Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA) on Monday, pushing for a censure resolution that would punish Tlaib for her comments while maintaining her First Amendment rights. It comes after 23 Republicans joined all Democrats in tabling a similar resolution last week that was offered by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), citing concerns over the bill’s language.
Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) has denounced the censure of Tlaib, calling out her colleagues who voted to pass the measure. She also described her fellow "Squad" member as someone who "stands for all humanity" and "isn’t a danger to anyone."