“Tlaib’s Provocative Remarks Split Fellow Democrats Over Israel, Palestinians

Representative Rashida Tlaib of Michigan is the latest Democrat to draw criticism from within her own party for her comments on Israel and Palestine. The congresswoman, a prominent member of the far-left “Squad”, has said the United States should condition military aid to Israel based on its policies, and has raised questions about the Israeli government’s human rights record. The comments, made at a town hall event in Detroit, didn’t win her any fans among more centrist and right-leaning adversaries. Senator Dianne Feinstein of California accused her of ignoring “the complexities of the issues and the dynamics of the region” and Representative Ted Deutch of Florida called her words “irresponsible and extremely disappointing”. Tlaib’s comments and her resulting criticims reflect an emerging divide among Democrats over how to approach the Israel-Palestine conflict. While progressives often advocate for direct criticism of Israel and its policies, more centrist elements prefer a softer stance that focuses on encouraging cooperation between both sides. Ultimately, the debate revolves around how U.S. policy should be shaped towards Israel and Palestine. At a time when President Trump has promised to pursue a strong pro-Israel stance, how Democrats respond to this issue could be a key part of the party’s identity going into the 2020 election.