Shanelle Jackson - black woman says "United State and Israel are sisters"

[yankeedoodle]

Tlaib's Dem challenger accuses her of antisemitism, says United States and Israel are 'sisters'
Shanelle Jackson, Rep. Rashida Tlaib's Democratic primary challenger in Michigan's 12th district, has accused the lawmaker of "antisemitic rhetoric," and seemingly made support for Israel a central part of her campaign to unseat Tlaib.
https://mondoweiss.net/2022/01/tlaibs-dem-challenger-accuses-her-of-antisemitism-says-united-states-and-israel-are-sisters/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily-email-mailpoet

Shanelle Jackson, Rep. Rashida Tlaib's Democratic primary challenger in Michigan's 12th district, accused the lawmaker of "antisemitic rhetoric" and championed the United States' relationship with Israel in a recent interview.

Jackson, who is a former state legislator, told Jewish Insider that "when [Tlaib] gets that mic in front of her, she goes crazy and goes to many extremes. I really feel like it's now or never as it pertains to being able to sort of shut her down and calm down some of the antisemitic rhetoric."

She also implied that Tlaib has prioritized Palestinians over the needs of her constituents. "She obviously is carrying the water of Palestine in all that she does," said Jackson. "Meanwhile, Detroiters, we don't have a voice. It's just the truth."

Jackson has seemingly made support for Israel a central part of her campaign. "Just saying it real plain, I believe that the United States and Israel are sisters, and I can't imagine living in a world where our nation didn't have Israel's back," she told the website. "It's heartbreaking, to be honest with you, to have Rep. Tlaib not even wanting to explore that path."

Jackson's support for Israel, and her opposition to Tlaib, has not gone unnoticed by Israel's supporters online:

https://twitter.com/emilykschrader/status/1482438177369559046?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1482438177369559046%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmondoweiss.net%2F2022%2F01%2Ftlaibs-dem-challenger-accuses-her-of-antisemitism-says-united-states-and-israel-are-sisters%2F

This isn't the first time that Tlaib has been smeared as an antisemite by a member of her own party. After Tlaib argued against additional Iron Dome funding (and denounced Israeli apartheid) on the House floor last fall, Rep. Ted Deutch rose to attack her. "I cannot– cannot allow one of my colleagues to stand on the floor of the House of Representatives. ... to label the Jewish Democratic state of Israel an apartheid state," he declared angrily. "I reject it.... I say to my colleague who just besmirched our ally... We can have an opportunity to debate a lot of issues on the House floor. But to falsely characterize Israel... is consistent with those who advocate for the dismantling of the one Jewish state in the world.. When there's no place on the map for one Jewish state, that's antisemitism."

Deutch's comments were publicly applauded by the lobbying group Democratic Majority for Israel (DMFI) and Rep. Kathy Manning (D-NC) told the press that she wanted to associate herself with the remarks too. None of Tlaib's Democratic colleagues defended her against the smears. JVP Action's Beth Miller told Electronic Intifada that the attacks on Tlaib "were a despicable and horrifying display of the deep-seated anti-Palestinian racism that runs rampant in Congress."

Tlaib currently represents Michigan's 13th district but she decided to run in the newly drawn 12th after Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-MI) announced she would not seek another term. Areas in the 13th were split up between the two districts as a result of the change. "I am excited about the opportunity to expand our work to include more communities that want the same access to a better quality of life, including clean air and water, affordable housing, economic justice, and more," said Tlaib in a statement.

https://twitter.com/RashidaTlaib/status/1478743534832435207?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1478743534832435207%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmondoweiss.net%2F2022%2F01%2Ftlaibs-dem-challenger-accuses-her-of-antisemitism-says-united-states-and-israel-are-sisters%2F

So far Tlaib and Jackson are the only two candidates who have declared that they're running. Tlaib was reelected easily in 2020.

The Jewish Insider piece also quotes David Rosenberg, president of the pro-Israel group CityPAC. "As a spiritual person, it seems like she just has a natural affinity for the land of Israel," he said. "Shanelle fully appreciates the harm that Rashida Tlaib has done to Israel and to the Jewish community over the years and knows that it also harms her constituents. She would be a breath of fresh air for those who care about Israel and Jewish-related causes if she were to serve in Congress in Tlaib's place."