Michigan Democratic Representative Rashida Tlaib has been awarded the title of "Antisemite of the Year" by the StopAntisemitism organization.
This designation comes in response to her statements, particularly following the October 7 attacks initiated by Hamas, which the organization has labeled as “particularly unconscionable.”
Liora Rez, the executive director of StopAntisemitism, emphasized Tlaib’s history of antisemitic remarks and highlighted her recent accusations against Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians. Rez condemned Tlaib for defending calls for the ethnic cleansing of Jews in Israel and labeled the representative’s statements as contributing to the dangerous rise of antisemitic incidents in America.
This year’s award places Tlaib among previous recipients, including rapper Kanye West, marking her as the fifth individual to receive this ignominious distinction. Tlaib’s history of criticizing Israel's policies and her statements following the October attacks have fueled controversy. Notably, she criticized the U.S. for providing financial support to what she termed the "apartheid government" of Israel.
Meet the 2023 Antisemite of the Year - Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib!
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) January 9, 2024
Tlaib beat out Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and supermodel Gigi Hadid for this year's title and inherits the title from 2022 Antisemite of the Year, Kanye West.
Congresswoman Tlaib’s well-earned dishonor… pic.twitter.com/ejL6UknRLM
The representative faced criticism for her repeated use of the phrase "from the river to the sea," which many interpreted as an implicit call for the destruction of Israel, despite her insistence that it represented Palestinian freedom. Tlaib also faced backlash for incorrectly accusing the IDF of bombing a Gaza hospital, which was actually struck by an Islamic Jihad rocket.
Furthermore, the House of Representatives censured Tlaib in November for her anti-Israel statements. Ending 2023 on a controversial note, she labeled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a "genocidal maniac" in an Instagram post in late December, further escalating tensions surrounding her rhetoric.
Tlaib's remarks and accusations have continued to provoke debate and stir controversy, with critics and organizations like StopAntisemitism condemning her statements as contributing to the rise of antisemitic sentiments.