Maher hits back at Tlaib: Does she ‘want to boycott 93 percent of her own party?’

Comedian Bill Maher on Tuesday denounced Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) after she suggested people boycott his HBO show over his vehement criticism of the international movement to boycott Israel. 

“Some people have one move only: boycott. Cancel. Make-go-away,” Maher said on Twitter, before noting that House Democrats earlier this year overwhelmingly approved a resolution to condemn the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel. “Does Tlaib want to boycott 93% of her own party?” 

Some people have one move only: boycott. Cancel. Make-go-away. But here’s the thing, the house voted 318 to 17 to condemn the #BDS movement, including 93% of Dems. Does Tlaib want to boycott 93% of her own party? pic.twitter.com/0QrPQmwwiw

— Bill Maher (@billmaher) August 21, 2019

The July House vote opposing the movement was actually 398-17.

{mosads}Maher’s comments came as Tlaib and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) continue to speak out over Israel’s recent decision to bar their entry during an upcoming trip overseas.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the move last week, citing Israeli law prohibiting entry into the country for individuals who support a boycott of Israel.

Omar and Tlaib, who became the first Muslim women sworn into Congress in January, have repeatedly voiced criticism of Israel during their time in office. The two have been vocal supporters of the BDS movement and were among a small minority of lawmakers to vote against a resolution to condemn it in the House. 

Maher castigated the push to boycott Israel during last week’s airing of HBO’s “Real Time,” calling it a “a bullshit purity test by people who want to appear woke but actually slept through history class.”

“It’s predicated on this notion, I think — it’s very shallow thinking — that the Jews in Israel, mostly white, and the Palestinians are browner, so they must be innocent and correct, and the Jews must be wrong. As if the occupation came right out of the blue, that this completely peaceful people found themselves occupied,” he said.

Maher later pointed to controversial statements Omar has made in the past about Israel, saying that he could see why the lawmakers wouldn’t receive a “hero’s welcome.” 

The remarks earned a rebuke from Tlaib, who said that “maybe folks should boycott his show.”

“I am tired of folks discrediting a form of speech that is centered on equality and freedom,” she said on Twitter. “This is exactly how they tried to discredit & stop the boycott to stand up against the apartheid in S. Africa. It didn’t work then and it won’t now.”

The World Jewish Congress condemned Tlaib’s remarks on Sunday, saying in a news release that they found her suggestion “deeply disturbing.” 

The Israeli government said last week that it would allow Tlaib to enter the country if she filed a humanitarian request to visit her grandmother. Tlaib initially filed a request, pledging not to vocalize her support of BDS while in the region. But she later backtracked, saying in a tweet that visiting Israel under those conditions stood against what she believes in.

Tlaib and Omar have continued to speak out about Israel’s decision in recent days. Omar said in a press conference on Monday that America’s aid to Israel should be linked to the country’s treatment of Palestinians, questioning whether funds should be halted in light of their barred entry.