Rep. Rashida Tlaib, the lone Palestinian American in Congress, gains relevance in Israel debate

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

When Rep. Rashida Tlaib delivered a fiery condemnation last week on the House floor of what she called Israel’s “apartheid” and “racist” policies, she invoked arguments that have long made her a pariah among some Israel advocates, led Republicans to call her anti-Semitic and alienated some of her Democratic colleagues.

So it was a remarkable moment this week, just five days later, when the lone Palestinian American member of Congress stood face to face with the president of the United States on an airport tarmac and, for eight minutes, engaged in an animated conversation about the U.S. response to the latest outbreak of violence between Israel and Palestinians. Equally notable was the decision by President Biden later that day to praise Tlaib during an appearance in her hometown of Detroit.

“I admire your intellect, I admire your passion, and I admire your concern for so many other people,” Biden said Tuesday. “And God, thank you for being a fighter.”

Biden’s words, and the images of the two from that day sent an unmistakable message that a congresswoman known largely since her 2018 election for her blunt criticism of Israel and her early call to “impeach the motherf-----” in reference to then-President Donald Trump had suddenly gained political relevance in a fast-changing U.S. political debate about the Middle East.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/eight-minutes-with-the-president-rep-rashida-tlaib-the-lone-palestinian-american-in-congress-gains-relevance-in-israel-debate/2021/05/20/fe3139c6-b8c5-11eb-bb84-6b92dedcd8ed_story.html

[Rustyeye77]

1. Israel -"apartheid" and "racist"

Tells me all I need to know.

[The Magistrate]

7. With Regret, Sir

Those terms are no longer quite so hyperbolic as might previously have been argued.

'Apartheid' remains still an exaggeration, but why it is employed is understandable.

'Racist' is a more fair description. It is also a mutual one. While contempt for Arabs is widespread among the Israeli populace, hate for Jews as Jews is widespread among the Arab population.

[Rustyeye77]

8. With equal regret, Sir

Last edited Fri May 21, 2021, 08:38 AM - Edit history (1)

While using the word “apartied” may be “understandable” the Arab Israel’s have the same education ,work, living , health care opportunities as Jewish Israelis. It’s a shame fatah and Gaza does realize how much better their lives would be, like their brethren in Israel. Apartied is not understandable to me. It’s a lie and used for political purposes.

Racist is simply untrue as well. If that was the case why are Israeli Arabs have same freedoms as Israelis in work,education ,voting , health care ? In fact the Israeli Arabs got the same COVID shots as the Jewish Israel’s.. And how many people were treated ,for free of course , from the West Bank and Gaza for humanitarian reasons? Endless. And let’s not forget the Syrian woman who gave birth in Isarael because of complications during pregnancy.

Not very racist but it must feel good for some people to ignore these things and bash Israel.

And as I said, it’s a shame that fatah and the Gaza haven’t realized they could benefit to working with Israel , rather then lob over 4000 missiles.

Sorry, calling Israel racist is repulsive and disgusting.

I still look forward to your reply.



Addendum:

How much better is the standard of living of the Israeli Arabs compared to their counterparts in the West Bank and Gaza?

I still look forward to your reply.

[The Magistrate]

9. Cherry-Picking Is Not A Good Response, Sir

Better to bite the bullet and accept the situation is far from black and white, and more a question of taupe v. charcoal grey.

Arab citizens of Israel are only a small portion of Arabs living under Israeli authority. As a matter of practical fact, Israel controls the parts of the Jordan valley from which Jordanian forces were expelled in '67. Anyone who wishes to make the argument that Arabs living there have similar rights to Israelis resident there is welcome to do so, but removes himself or herself from sensible discussion of the matter.

Racism has acquired two meanings by now. One is personal prejudice, holding the belief that persons of another race or identifiable ethnic heritage are different and inferior by their very nature. The second is social structures and cultural mores that operate to disfavor persons of a particular race or ethnicity, while favoring another.

Nothing of what you offer against the proposition that racism is a feature of Israeli society and governance engages either definition. It is not uncommon to extend various graces to persons one believes inferior to oneself. Indeed, doing so can serve to sustain a person's sense of superiority over those assisted. The letter of statute is seldom all that operates when police interact with a disfavored element of a society, or when the actual private decisions determining employment and salary are made.

A claim that animus against Arabs as Arabs does not exist in a significant portion of Israelis is as ludicrous as claiming animus against Jews as Jews is not widespread among the Arab population, and among those others who proclaim themselves 'anti-Zionist', yet somehow manage to mostly criticize Zionism in terms taken from the Protocols and Der Sturmer.

[Rustyeye77]

10. Hmmm...no cherry picking here.

I disagree with your post.

No reason to take this to another level.

[The Magistrate]

11. As You Are Fairly New Here, Sir

I would point out that back in the old sand-trap, as we used to call the specialized forum in which debate concerning Israel v. Palestine took place, I participated as a leading light of 'Team Israel'. Recognizing the propriety of a Jewish state has never struck me as requiring obliviousness to obvious features complicating the situation.

[Rustyeye77]

14. Thank you for your post.

i respect your pov..

i respectfully think there is not much more to say.

[ananda]

17. Yes, there are two sides to this bloody coin.

Perhaps "racism" isn't quite the right word, but Israel's
policies toward the Palestinians have been very cruel
and, to my mind, totally unnecessary.

I think they coulda and shoulda worked on forming a
two-state system that works for all of them.

[malaise]

13. Well said Sir

Jimmy Carter got this right ages ago.

[ananda]

18. Perhaps Greenfield-Thomas will be just as good.

Here's hoping.

[malaise]

19. Indeed

[betsuni]

2. ...

[RandiFan1290]

3. She is fantastic

Love how she triggers the right wingers.



trump lost, keep whining

[abqtommy]

5. +100

[no_hypocrisy]

6. Another Profiles in Courage

Taking a relatively unpopular stand but not backing down, while at risk for political retribution or longevity.

[Sgent]

12. Apartied

may not be the right word, but what Israel is doing to non-citizen Arabs under its control is institutionalized and unconscionable, and they need to be better. I have yet to hear the current Israel government make a suggestion on an exit strategy, and the longer this severe occupation / control goes on the more pressure they will face.

[burrowowl]

15. Many on the left in Israel

Are calling it apartheid.

[PhylliPretzel]

16. Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, as well as other South Africans, have called Israel apartheid much worse than what the black and colored people of South Africa endured during their apartheid.
I accept his assessment as more knowledgeable than others.