House passes resolution denouncing Palestinian slogan as antisemitic

The House of Representatives made a significant decision on Tuesday by adopting a resolution that condemns the use of the phrase “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” as antisemitic. The resolution passed with a vote of 377-44-1, with 43 progressives and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) opposing it, and Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.) voting “present.”

This resolution comes after Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) faced censure in November for posting a video that included protesters chanting the same phrase and accusing President Biden of supporting the genocide of the Palestinian people. Tlaib, who voted against the resolution, has defended the phrase as “aspirational” in achieving an independent Palestinian state.

Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, expressed his support for the resolution despite believing it was brought to divide Democrats. He emphasized the danger of the phrase in question and the need to do what is right.

The majority of Democrats and Republicans support a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine, with a secure Israel alongside an independent Palestinian state. They criticize the use of the phrase “from the river to the sea” as delegitimizing Israel’s existence and have labeled it as antisemitic.

The Anti Defamation League and the American Jewish Committee have also condemned the chant, describing it as a rallying cry for terrorist groups seeking Israel’s destruction. The resolution highlights the ongoing debate surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the importance of choosing words carefully in discussions about peace in the region.