Two House Democrats and members of the “Squad,” Rep. Rashida Tlaib, of Michigan, and Rep. Cori Bush, of Missouri, called for the United States to stop providing aid to Israel in public posts this week.
Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., who is Jewish, reacted angrily to his colleagues’ statements. He told Fox News, “It sickens me that while Israelis clean the blood of their family members shot in their homes, they believe Congress should strip U.S. funding to our democratic ally and allow innocent civilians to suffer.”
Tlaib has referred to Israel as an “apartheid system,” and in July voted against a bipartisan resolution declaring allegiance to Israel that passed overwhelmingly. Just nine members of Congress opposed it.
Tlaib earlier wrote in a press release, “The path to that future must include lifting the blockade, ending the occupation, and dismantling the apartheid system that creates the suffocating, dehumanizing conditions that can lead to resistance.”
She continued, “As long as our country provides billions in unconditional funding to support the apartheid government, this heartbreaking cycle of violence will continue.”
Bush has similarly called for the U.S. to rescind support to Israel.
“As part of achieving a just and lasting peace, we must do our part to stop this violence and trauma by ending U.S. government support for Israeli military occupation and apartheid,” per her X post.
White House spokesperson Karinne Jean-Pierre responded in a press briefing on Tuesday, calling Bush and Tlaib’s statements “repugnant” and “disgraceful.”
She said, “I’ve seen some of those statements this weekend. And we’re going to continue to be very clear: We believe they are wrong, we believe they’re repugnant, and we believe they’re disgraceful.
“Our condemnation belongs squarely with terrorists who have brutally murdered, raped, kidnapped hundreds — hundreds of Israelis. There can be no equivocation about that. There are not two sides here. There are not two sides.”