McCarthy stops Tlaib’s anti-Semitic event.

House Speaker Blocks Anti-Semitic Event Hosted by Rep. Rashida Tlaib

McCarthy Takes a Stand Against Anti-Semitism

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has taken a stand against anti-Semitism by blocking Michigan’s Democratic congresswoman Rashida Tlaib from hosting an anti-Semitic congressional event. The event was planned for Wednesday and was meant to mourn Israel’s founding as a “catastrophe.” McCarthy intervened late Tuesday to reserve the Capitol Visitor Center space where Tlaib was set to host the event. In its place, the speaker will lead a bipartisan briefing celebrating the 75th anniversary of the U.S.-Israel relationship.

“It’s wrong for members of Congress to traffic in anti-Semitic tropes about Israel,” McCarthy said. “As long as I’m Speaker, we are going to support Israel’s right to self-determination and self-defense, unequivocally and in a bipartisan fashion.”

Tlaib’s Anti-Semitic Event

Tlaib came under fire this week after it was reported that she would host the event alongside an array of anti-Israel groups, including some that have defended terrorism. Tlaib’s event was meant to celebrate the “Nakba,” a Palestinian term for the creation of Israel that loosely translates as “catastrophe.” The event was to be headlined by several organizations that support the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, an anti-Semitic effort to wage economic war on Israel.

Coalition for Jewish Values Condemns Tlaib’s Event

A rabbinical group, the Coalition for Jewish Values, sent a letter to leaders in the House and Senate asking them to condemn Tlaib’s event. “It is unsurprising but appalling that the featured speaker at this event will be a Member of Congress who describes the only Middle Eastern country to give equality and voting rights to both Jews and Arabs as ‘apartheid,'” the group wrote in the letter. “We hope that our request will meet with your favorable response, and that you will condemn this event in the strongest terms as soon as possible.”

Anti-Israel Attitudes Promoted by Nakba Ceremonies

Nakba ceremonies have long promoted anti-Israel attitudes and descended “into expressions of support for terror groups or attacks against Israelis,” according to the Anti-Defamation League. It is unclear how Tlaib and her supporters will move forward with the event now that McCarthy has occupied their meeting space. Tlaib, or another member, could potentially attempt to reschedule the event for a later date.

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