Rep. Tlaib accused of anti-Semitism for comments on Biden pick
The Michigan congresswoman said she hopes Joe Biden's nominee for secretary of state will not go after boycotts of Israel.
A Democratic congresswoman is under fire for comments she made about President-elect Joe Biden’s nominee to be secretary of state.
On Monday, Biden named longtime adviser Antony Blinken as his pick for the top diplomatic post. In response, Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan said she hopes Blinken will uphold constitutional free speech rights as they pertain criticism of Israeli policies, particularly those criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“So long as he doesn't suppress my First Amendment right to speak out against Netanyahu's racist and inhumane policies,” Tlaib tweeted. “The Palestinian people deserve equality and justice.”
Tlaib, who is Palestinian-American, was accused of anti-Semitism for bringing up Israel immediately upon Blinken’s nomination because Blinken is Jewish. Several US Jewish groups and commentators alleged that Tlaib only brought Israel into the conversation because of Blinken’s background.
