Rashida Tlaib: Don't use US taxes for 'violent oppression' of Palestinians

House Democrat Rashida Tlaib added a reminder in a tweet condemning the destruction of the home of a Palestinian-American terrorist that "apartheid government is not a democracy.

JULY 11, 2021 12:57

Rashida Tlaib (photo credit: REUTERS/REBECCA COOK) — Rashida Tlaib

(photo credit: REUTERS/REBECCA COOK)

Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Michigan) on Saturday tweeted about the demolition of the West Bank home of Palestinian-American terrorist Muntasir Shalabi, calling to stop US taxpayer dollars being used to "violently oppress the Palestinians.

"Just this week Israel demolished and leveled the home of a Palestinian family in the beloved village of Turmus Aiya. For what? To dehumanize," said Tlaib, who was born to Palestinian parents who immigrated to the US.

Reminder: Apartheid government is not a democracy. We must stop our taxpayer dollars being used to violently oppress the Palestinians. Just this week Israel demolished and leveled the home of a Palestinian family in the beloved village of Turmusaya. For what? To dehumanize. https://t.co/nR25TaYi1K
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) July 10, 2021

Shalabi had been indicted for killing Yehuda Guetta,19, in a drive-by shooting at the Tapuah Junction at the beginning of May. He was also indicted for the attempted murder of two other students who were wounded in the shooting.

Talib added a reminder in the tweet that "apartheid government is not a democracy."

Tlaib's tweet quoted a tweet from Quds News that showed footage of the destruction of Shalabi's home. "Thus the occupation army destroyed the house of the prisoner Muntasir Shalabi," read the Quds tweet.

هكذا دمر جيش الاحتلال منزل الأسير منتصــر شلبــي في بلدة ترمسعيا فجر اليوم.#فلسطين pic.twitter.com/rL0URyH1y8
— شبكة قدس الإخبارية (@qudsn) July 8, 2021

The destruction of the home came as the Biden administration reportedly clashed for the first time with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, declaring that it has prioritized pressuring Israel to halt its punitive policy of demolishing Palestinian homes, including those of terrorists.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken personally intervened and spoke to a “senior Israeli counterpart” prior to the demolition, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said.

The razing of Shalabi's home prompted a condemnation from the US Embassy. “The home of an entire family should not be demolished for the actions of one individual,” the embassy spokesperson said.

“We believe it is critical for all parties to refrain from unilateral steps that exacerbate tensions and undercut efforts to advance a negotiated two-state solution; this certainly includes the punitive demolition of Palestinian homes,” the spokesperson added.

“The Prime Minister appreciates and respects the US,” said a source in Bennett's office. “At the same time, [the prime minister] acts solely in accordance with security considerations of the State of Israel and the need to protect the lives of Israeli citizens,” the source said.