Republican vows to fly Israel flag outside Congress office next to Rashida Tlaib
Newly elected Florida representative Kat Cammack says ‘it’ll be very helpful’ for Democrat of Palestinian descent to walk past it every day
Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
A newly sworn-in Republican Congresswoman from Florida vowed on Tuesday to place an Israeli flag outside her Capitol Hill office, which is right next door to that of Democrat Rashida Tlaib, who is of Palestinian descent.
“Rep. Tlaib, who has an office right next to mine in DC, has some strong opinions about Israel that I 100% disagree with, so I’ve made a pledge to plant Israel’s flag outside my door right next to the American flag. I think it’ll be very helpful as she walks past both every day,” Kat Cammack tweeted.
The Republican House member who was sworn in Monday will be using an Israeli flag sent to her by Gators for Israel, an AIPAC-trained campus group at the University of Florida, which works to advance a bipartisan US-Israel relationship.
Gators for Israel president Kevin Marti said that the group was unaware of Cammack’s plans to use the flag as a slight at Tlaib, who has expressed support for a binational state as a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as well as the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel.
However, the group did share an article on Cammack’s flag pledge, writing “Gators for Israel is proud to continue building a strong relationship with our newly sworn-in member of Congress.”
An AIPAC spokesman said that “while the [Gators for Israel] students have received training from us, the organization is not affiliated with us.”
A spokesperson for Tlaib told The Times of Israel the move was a publicity stunt.
“Congressional members were elected to take on pressing issues impacting their constituents, not publicity stunts. Rep. Tlaib is focused on solving issues and showing up for her constituents. One can only hope that Rep. Cammack will do the same,” said Denzel McCampbell.
