WASHINGTON — United States Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib — the first Palestinian-American woman to serve in Congress — delivered an impassioned speech on the House floor defending herself and speaking in support of Palestinians as the House debated a resolution to censure her over her criticism of Israel.

She grew emotional and had trouble speaking after she said: “I can’t believe I have to say this, but Palestinian people are not disposable.”

After a long pause, during which Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar stood up to comfort her and put her hands on Tlaib’s shoulder, Tlaib braced herself against the podium and said: “We are human beings just like anyone else.”

Tlaib said that her grandmother “like all Palestinians, just wants to live her life with freedom and human dignity we all deserve.”

“The cries of the Palestinian and Israeli children sound no different to me. What I don’t understand is why the cries of Palestinians sound different to you all. We cannot lose our shared humanity,” she said.

“I will not be silenced and I will not let you distort my words,” she said. “Trying to bully or censor me won’t work.”

Tlaib argued that her criticism of the Israeli government should not be conflated with accusations of antisemitism.

“No government is beyond criticism. The idea that criticizing the government of Israel is antisemitic sets a very dangerous precedent, and it’s been used to silence diverse voices speaking up for human rights across our nation," she said.

The House voted Tuesday to advance a resolution to censure Tlaib after a motion to table – or block – the resolution failed, setting up an expected vote on passage of the resolution on Wednesday.

Progressive Democrats attacked their Republican colleagues over the resolution, accusing them of bigotry, misrepresenting Tlaib’s words and attacking free speech.

“Her voice matters. She is the only Palestinian-American in the Congress, and this is a representative body,” Rep. Debbie Dingell said. “Her perspective reflects many that she represents, especially when it’s not twisted.”

Democratic Rep. Ayanna Pressley called the censure resolution “blatantly Islamophobic, anti-democratic and an utter waste of time.”

However, GOP Rep. Max Miller one of the only Jewish members of the House Republican conference, disagreed.

“I believe that actions have consequences, and I believe that after a long string of antisemitic remarks and hate-filled rhetoric, censure is an appropriate consequence for the gentlelady from Michigan. Never again, damn it, means never again,” he said. — CNN