As the death toll in Israel’s war with Hamas quickly approaches 10,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, progressive Representative Rashida Tlaib of Michigan accused President Joe Biden of supporting “the genocide of the Palestinian people” in a video posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, on Friday.
“Joe Biden supported the genocide of the Palestinian people,” read several lines of text at the end of the video, which includes clips of Israeli airstrikes hitting Gaza, injured children, and pro-Palestinian protests across the United States. “The American people won’t forget,” the video continues. “Biden, support a ceasefire now, or don’t count on us in 2024.”
Regarding the video, the White House stayed silent.
The first female Palestinian-American member of Congress, Tlaib accuses Biden that “the American people are not with” him on the issue of a ceasefire. Her claim is supported by some data: According to a Data for Progress poll conducted on October 20, 66% of respondents—including most Republicans—agree that the United States should back a ceasefire “strongly” or “somewhat.”
However, Biden has refrained from calling for one thus far, as has the overwhelming majority of the House and Senate. The president demanded a “pause” in the fighting to free the hostages in Gaza during remarks made last Wednesday. A week prior, on October 25, almost all members of the House cast votes in favor of a symbolic resolution endorsing Israel. About 20 House members have endorsed a cease-fire resolution as of Saturday, and Iowa Democrat Dick Durbin is the first senator to call for one.
The representative from Michigan made these remarks as Democratic worries about Biden’s handling of the war are growing in Tlaib’s home state. The sizeable Arab-American and Muslim communities in Michigan played a pivotal role in creating the so-called “Blue Wave” that gave Biden the presidency in 2020.
However, according to the Arab American Institute, recent polling reveals that support for Biden among Arab Americans has sharply declined to an all-time low of 17%, a 42 percent decline since 2020. As the president approaches next year’s election, Democrats in Michigan are already cautioning him that his reluctance to support a ceasefire and his largely unwavering support for Israel run the risk of alienating this important voting bloc.
The Jewish progressive organizations Jewish Voice for Peace and If Not Now, who have both called Israel’s war on Gaza genocidal, organized a rally on October 18 at Capitol Hill, and Tlaib successfully repelled an attempt by their groups to pass a congressional resolution denouncing her for her participation in that event.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia, led the effort to censure Tlaib, accusing the congresswoman from Michigan of “antisemitic activity, sympathizing with terrorist organizations, and leading an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol complex.” (Many were quick to point out that Taylor Greene herself has a history of antisemitism and insurrection.)
“Marjorie Taylor Greene’s unhinged resolution is deeply Islamophobic and attacks peaceful Jewish anti-war advocates,” Tlaib said in response to the resolution, which was effectively tabled by a 222-186 vote in the House on Wednesday. “I am proud to stand in solidarity with Jewish peace advocates calling for a ceasefire and an end to the violence.”
A political action committee primarily funded by LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman is reportedly considering launching a primary challenger against Tlaib. She is also facing attack ads from Democratic Majority for Israel, a pro-Israel group.
In the event that Hoffman throws his hat into the ring, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and other members of “The Squad,” an unofficial group of eight progressive House Democrats, will be forced to contend with fresh intra-party elections as a result of their criticisms of Israel.
