Former DNC Chair Calls Tlaib Anti-Semitic For Claiming Progressives Cannot Support Israel

In an online seminar sponsored by Palestinian groups which took place this past Tuesday, Michigan Democratic Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib declared:

I want you all to know that among progressives, it has become clear that you cannot claim to hold progressive values, yet back Israel’s apartheid government. We will continue to push back and not accept this idea that you are progressive, except for ‘Palestine,’ any longer.

A number of Tlaib's Democratic congressional colleagues were unamused with Tlaib's comments beginning with former DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman-Schultz who took to Twitter to characterize Tlaib's commentary as anti-Semitic:

The outrageous progressive litmus test on Israel by @RashidaTlaib is nothing short of antisemitic. Proud progressives do support Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish and democratic state. Suggesting otherwise is shameful and dangerous. Divisive rhetoric does not lead to peace.

Meanwhile, several other Democratic members of Congress such as Jerry Nadler, Ritchie Torres, Grace Meng, Brad Sherman and Brad Schneider were also critical of Tlaib's litmus test though they emphasized that supporting Israel is a progressive value as opposed to accusing her of anti-Semitism. I wish they had echoed Wasserman-Schultz in declaring Tlaib to be anti-Semitic. The more Democrats air this view the greater the chance Tlaib and others like her are to be marginalized in the party.

Of course, I would prefer the likes of Tlaib not be welcome among Democrats at all. But the more Democrats who come and out say that Tlaib and other squad members like AOC, Ilhan Omar, Cori Bush and Ayanna Pressley do not speak for them the better.