Rashida Tlaib accused of anti-Semitism in response to Tony Blinken's Secretary of State nomination

Rashida Tlaib is accused of anti-Semitism by Republicans after saying Joe Biden’s Jewish pick for Secretary of State Tony Blinken may try to silence her criticism of Israeli policy

  • Biden’s transition team announced Tony Blinken will be Secretary of State
  • The Jewish son of a Holocaust survivor previously served in Obama government
  • Rashida Tlaib said she hopes he does not prevent her from speaking about Israel
  • Her comments were deemed anti-Semitic by Republicans and Trump supporters
  • She clarified that Mike Pompeo has sought so silence anti-Israel group BDS

Rep. Rashida Tlaib has been accused of anti-Semitism by Republicans in her response to Joe Biden’s decision to select Tony Blinken as his Secretary of State.

The transition team for the President-elect announced Monday that Blinken, who served as deputy secretary of state under Barack Obama, and a foreign policy adviser to Biden, would head up the State Department. 

But Tlaib, who is part of the ‘Squad’ which also consists of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar and Ayanna Pressley, said she hopes the nominee will not prevent her from voicing concerns about Israel.  

The Democrat responded on Twitter to Bernie Sanders’ campaign manager Faiz Shakir who called Blinken a ‘solid choice’.

She said: ‘So long as he doesn’t suppress my First Amendment right to speak out against Netanyahu’s racist and inhumane policies. The Palestinian people deserve equality and justice.’

Many Republicans and Donald Trump supporters responded with accusations of anti-Semitism because Blinken is Jewish and the stepson of a Holocaust survivor.

Tlaib, whose parents are Palestinian, has frequently criticized US foreign policy towards Israel and the Netanyahu regime.

Rep. Rashida Tlaib has been accused of anti-Semitism in her response to Joe Biden's decision to select Tony Blinken as his Secretary of State

Rep. Rashida Tlaib has been accused of anti-Semitism in her response to Joe Biden’s decision to select Tony Blinken as his Secretary of State

The transition team for the President-elect announced Monday that Blinken would head up the State Department

The transition team for the President-elect announced Monday that Blinken would head up the State Department

Many Republicans and Donald Trump supporters responded with accusations of anti-Semitism because Blinken is Jewish

Many Republicans and Donald Trump supporters responded with accusations of anti-Semitism because Blinken is Jewish

She later clarified her tweet, saying: ‘Sec. Pompeo has moved to suppress BDS, a peaceful protest movement protected by the 1st Amendment. 

‘I hope that Mr. Blinken and President-Elect Biden’s Administration will change course from Trump’s State Department & not target or suppress support of Palestinian human rights.’

Tlaib is one of the few members of Congress to openly support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) group which calls for action against Israel. 

Tlaib, whose parents are Palestinian, has frequently criticized US foreign policy towards Israel and the Netanyahu regime

Tlaib, whose parents are Palestinian, has frequently criticized US foreign policy towards Israel and the Netanyahu regime

The current Secretary of State Mike Pompeo branded the group ‘anti-Semitic’ and withdrew funding for groups wanting to boycott Israel. 

He said last week: ‘The US is committed to countering the Global BDS Campaign as a manifestation of anti-Semitism.

‘I am directing US Special Envoy @USEAntiSemitism to identify organizations engaged in politically motivated actions intended to penalize or limit commercial relations with Israel.’

The current Secretary of State Mike Pompeo branded BDS 'anti-Semitic' and withdrew funding for groups critical of Israel

The current Secretary of State Mike Pompeo branded BDS ‘anti-Semitic’ and withdrew funding for groups critical of Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the decision ‘simply wonderful.’ 

BDS organizers cast their movement as a non-violent way of protesting Israel’s policies toward the Palestinians modeled on the campaign that helped end apartheid in South Africa. 

The movement has had some limited success over the years, particularly on college campuses and with artists and entertainers, but no impact on the Israeli economy.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo became the first top American diplomat to visit an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo became the first top American diplomat to visit an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank

Israel views BDS as an assault on its very existence, and has seized on statements by some supporters to accuse it of anti-Semitism, allegations denied by organizers.

In a statement, the BDS movement reiterated its rejection of ‘all forms of racism, including anti-Jewish racism,’ and accused the US and Israel of trying to silence advocacy for Palestinian rights.

‘The BDS movement for Palestinian freedom, justice and equality, stands with all those struggling for a more dignified, just and beautiful world,’ it said. ‘With our many partners, we shall resist these McCarthyite attempts to intimidate and bully Palestinian, Israeli and international human rights defenders into accepting Israeli apartheid and settler-colonialism as fate.’

source: dailymail.co.uk