Three days after sharing a tweet deemed anti-Semitic by the Anti-Defamation League, Rep. Rashida Tlaib has said she would strive to hold herself to “the highest standards” when it comes to fake news.
The ADL accused Ms. Tlaib of spreading “blood libel” when she retweeted a post Saturday by Palestinian leader Hanan Ashrawi, who responded to an unverified allegation that a 7-year-old Palestinian child was “kidnapped and executed by a herd of violent Israeli settlers” and was “assaulted and thrown in a water well.”
Ms. Tlaib quietly unshared the post but not before eagle-eyed Twitter users grabbed a screenshot.
On Sunday, Mr. Ashrawi deleted his tweet and apologized amid reports that the boy’s death was a possible accidental drowning.
“My apologies for retweeting something that’s not fully verified. It seems that the news of his being kidnapped is not certain,” Mr. Ashrawi tweeted.
Jonathan Greenblatt, the CEO of the ADL, slammed Ms. Tlaib for not immediately apologizing for sharing the tweet.
“This is an example of how the blood libel works in 2020,” he wrote. “@Rashida Tlaib retweets a vicious lie steeped in centuries-old accusations used to demonize Jews, then says nothing when it’s disproven. An apology is overdue.”
It wasn’t until Tuesday afternoon that Ms. Tlaib addressed the controversy.
“In this era of inaccurate and manipulative news, I will also strive to hold myself to the highest standards for what I share,” the Michigan Democrat tweeted. “Know that I always seek truth as we uplift the oppressed and fight for equality, justice, and freedom.”
In this era of inaccurate and manipulative news, I will also strive to hold myself to the highest standards for what I share. Know that I always seek truth as we uplift the oppressed and fight for equality, justice, and freedom. https://t.co/wma0ykjZbF
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) January 28, 2020
