Twitter users discussed a member of the Democratic Congressional group 'The Squad', as Michigan representative Rashida Tlaib, who has been accused of anti-Semitism, is set to speak on a panel discussing ways to fight it, Fox News reported.
The event, titled "Dismantling Anti-Semitism, Winning Justice", is expected to include two members in its panel previously accused of expressing anti-Semitic views. Lamont Hill, a professor, was reportedly fired from CNN after commenting on the Palestinian apartheid, and writer Peter Beinart who, in an op-ed for the New York Times, called for abandoning the two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians.
Tlaib was criticized by Republicans after saying in 2019 that she experienced a "calm feeling" when thinking about the Holocaust, stating that the Palestinians provided land for the Jews to build a “safe haven”. The congresswoman observed that her critics were "twisting" her words, and defended her comments.
The House minority whip, Republican Steve Scalise, condemned Tlaib's comments, calling on US Speaker of the House, Democrat Nancy Pelosi, to "take swift action and make it clear that these vile comments have no place in Congress".
The panel composition was mocked by some on Twitter, with conservative Daily Wire columnist Harry Khachatrian suggesting that it should have included "neo-Nazi" and "white supremacist" Richard B. Spencer, and the Nation of Islam leader and "black supremacist" Louis Farrakhan, both of whom have reportedly often expressed anti-Semitic views.
Last year, the Israeli government refused a request by Tlaib an another prominent member of The Squad, Ilhan Omar, after they made a request for a humanitarian visit to the Jewish state, claiming that their visit was intended to promote boycotts against Israel. Tlaib, reportedly promised not to promote boycotts and Israel granted her permission to enter the country, but she then changed her mind, suggesting that she would not allow herself to be put under "oppressive conditions."
The same year she was condemned by some members of the Jewish community who called on her to explain alleged ties to "Palestinian radicals" after she hosted a private dinner following her election to Congress which was reported to have been attended by anti-Israel activists.