Zionist Organization of America National President Morton A. Klein and Executive Director of the Mid-Atlantic/Greater Philadelphia region of the Zionist Organization of America, Steve Feldman, released the following statement:
The Zionist Organization of America calls on Congresswoman Madeleine Dean to publicly apologize for her reprehensible failure to vote in favor of a House of Representatives bipartisan resolution yesterday that correctly labeled the genocidal slogan, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”, as antisemitic.
Dean, whose district includes most of Montgomery County, which is adjacent to Philadelphia and is home to tens of thousands of Jewish constituents (including Morton Klein) and undoubtedly many other Zionists, voted “present” rather than “yea” on H.Res. 833.
This resolution “resolved, that it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the slogan, ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’, is outrightly antisemitic and must be strongly condemned; this slogan is divisive and does a disservice to Israelis, Palestinians, and all those in the region who seek peace; this slogan rejects calls for peace, stability, and safety in the region; this slogan perpetuates hatred against the State of Israel and the Jewish people; and anyone who calls for the eradication of Israel and the Jewish people are antisemitic and must always be condemned.”
The resolution passed 377-44, with 162 Democrats voting in favor. Dean’s was the lone “present” vote. Nine House members did not participate in the vote.
For some reason that only Representative Dean knows, she could not bring herself to vote in favor of that. Also not voting in favor of this resolution were those notoriously anti-Jewish/anti-Israel/anti-Zionist House members known as “The Squad.”
We wonder if Congresswoman Dean is contemplating formally allying with representatives Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, Betty McClintock, Marc Poland, Ayanna Pressley, Jamaal Bowman, Cori Bush, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Summer Lee — and becoming a member of “The Squad” herself.
This is the latest in a string of contemptable anti-Israel actions Dean has taken in recent months. See bullet points below for details.
“From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” is a common chant at these pro-Hamas rallies, but Congresswoman Dean does not understand or will not admit that this terrible chant is a call to violence, murder and genocide targeting Jews.”
Congresswoman Dean’s district includes a large and prominent Jewish community who cares deeply for Israel and Israel’s well-being, and many of her constituents have close family in Israel. Congresswoman Dean should be representing her constituents – that’s why she was sent to Congress – not those who want to destroy and eliminate the largest Jewish community in the world and a vitally important ally of the United States.
We witnessed the Islamic republic of Iran fire a combination of more than 300 cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and deadly drones at Israel just last weekend; daily Iranian-proxy Hezbollah firing deadly rockets from Lebanon at Israelis; and on October 7, 2023, Palestinian-Arabs led by Hamas slaughtered more than 1,200 Israelis and raped and injured thousands more. The people who chant “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” applaud these deadly attacks, and Congresswoman Dean refuses to condemn this violent, genocidal rhetoric.
While a House member cannot change one’s vote after the fact, we urge Congresswoman Dean to express your regret for throwing your lot with other Jew-haters who chose not to support the resolution, and those who chant this incitement to violence on America’s streets and on America’s campuses.
Recent additional anti-Israel actions by Congresswoman Madeleine Dean:
- On April 5, Dean signed onto a letter to President Biden and Secretary Blinken calling for them to withhold re-supplying Israel with much-needed armaments and weapons. The letter used alleged Gaza casualty statistics in Gaza supplied by Hamas as the basis for their demands.
- On March 5, Dean initiated 61 colleagues sending a letter to President Joe Biden, urging him to use diplomatic leverage to pursue an end to the violence in Gaza, outline a clear and fair plan for a Palestinian state, and exercise oversight over arms and materials purchased by Israel with U.S. assistance.
- In a February 28 article published by the Philadelphia Inquirer based on an interview with Dean after returning from Israel, Dean is quoted by the reporter as stating: “It was impressed upon everybody that we must get to cessation of the fighting. Unfortunately, the Netanyahu administration denies problems going on with settler violence. We are calling that out. It is a serious problem, and it is a tinder box. And Palestinians are dying.” Dean said nothing about the Palestinian-Arab violence against Jews in Judea and Samaria and elsewhere.
- Also on February 28, Dean issued an official statement noting: “What I saw confirmed my concerns and fears. Israel has the right and responsibility to defend itself, its sovereignty, and its citizens — but what is happening is beyond self-defense and is unacceptable to me.…
“Since the start of Israel’s mission to root out Hamas, in the wake of the brutal murders and kidnappings on Oct. 7, the United States has given Mr. Netanyahu time and discretion, in the hopes that Israel could do that which would benefit us all — rid Gaza of a cruel terrorist organization and bring hostages home.
“Instead, Mr. Netanyahu has used that time, that discretion, to wage a war against civilians — and no war against civilians is just.”
- On December 13, Dean voted “present” rather than “yea” on H.Res. 894, which strongly condemned Jew-hatred while asserting that anti-Zionism is indeed antisemitism. The vote was 311-14 in favor.
- Also on December 13, Dean voted “nay” on H.Res. 927, which condemned antisemitism on university campuses and the testimony of university presidents before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. The measure passed 303-126 with three “present” votes.
Roll Call 134 | Bill Number: H. Res. 883
“Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that—
(1) the slogan, “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”, is outrightly antisemitic and must be strongly condemned;
(2) this slogan is divisive and does a disservice to Israelis, Palestinians, and all those in the region who seek peace;
(3) this slogan rejects calls for peace, stability, and safety in the region;
(4) this slogan perpetuates hatred against the State of Israel and the Jewish people; and
(5) anyone who calls for the eradication of Israel and the Jewish people are antisemitic and must always be condemned.”