Rep. Ilhan Omar came under a fresh round of criticism Friday for remarks about Israel that critics decried as anti-Semitic.
Speaking at the “Progressive Townhall” forum at a Washington, DC bookstore with fellow freshman anti-Semite Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, the Minnesota Democrat said she fears everything they say about Israel is construed as anti-Semitic because they’re Muslim. She said that prevents a “broader debate” about Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.
Omar and Tlaib – who is Palestinian – won their seats in November, becoming the first Muslim women elected to Congress.
“What I’m fearful of – because Rashida and I are Muslim – that a lot of our Jewish colleagues, a lot of our constituents, a lot of our allies, go to thinking that everything we say about Israel to be anti-Semitic because we are Muslim,” said Omar, as Tlaib shook her head next to her.
“To me, it’s something that becomes designed to end the debate because you get in this space of – yes, I know what intolerance looks like and I’m sensitive when someone says, ‘The words you used Ilhan are resemblance of intolerance….And I am cautious of that and I feel pained by that. But it’s almost as if, every single time we say something regardless of what it is we say….we get to be labeled something. And that ends the discussion. Because we end up defending that and nobody ever gets to have the broader debate of what is happening with Palestine.”
Omar then brought up an anti-Semitic trope about divided loyalties among Jewish-Americans when she said, “I want to talk about the political influence in this country that says it is OK for people to push for allegiance to a foreign country.”
She added, “I want to ask, ‘Why is it OK for me to talk about the influence of the (National Rifle Association), or fossil fuel industries or Big Pharma, and not talk about a powerful lobbying group that is influencing policy?’”
Anti-Semitic Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) pushes the anti-Semitic dual loyalty canard, says: “I want to talk about the political influence in this country that says it is okay to push for allegiance to a foreign country [Israel].” pic.twitter.com/Df3HSC6WhU
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) February 28, 2019
Steve Hunegs, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas, said in a statement that he was appalled by her suggestion that Jewish-Americans have divided loyalties between the U.S. and Israel. He said her comment “continues the unacceptable pattern of the Congresswoman deploying anti-Semitic rhetoric when speaking about Jewish-Americans’ involvement in our nation’s democratic process.”
Influential pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC tweeted about her latest remarks, “The charge of dual loyalty not only raises the ominous specter of classic anti-Semitism, but it is also deeply insulting to the millions upon millions of patriotic Americans, Jewish and non-Jewish, who stand by our democratic ally, Israel.”
Florida Democrat Rep. Ted Deutch slams Omar’s latest anti-Semitic comments:
Dual loyalty?
Jews proudly serve our country. I serve in the https://t.co/S6NxXJsWh8.
My father served in the U.S. Army. As a Jewish soldier, he was given this book before fighting the Nazis on the battlefields of Europe.
We are proud, loyal Americans.
Shabbat Shalom. pic.twitter.com/ElcKeQVyHv
— Rep. Ted Deutch (@RepTedDeutch) March 1, 2019
Meanwhile, Omar seems to have deleted several recent tweets that drew international condemnation for their blatant anti-Semitic remarks. She was condemned by both Republican and Democratic colleagues two weeks ago.
The Minnesota Democrat has also recently deleted a 2012 tweet in which she accused Israel of “evil doings” and having “hypnotized the world.” However, just last month, she defended the tweets, saying: “I don’t know how my comments would be offensive to Jewish Americans”.
She then sparked more outrage with tweets criticizing the influence of pro-Israel lobbying groups, and insinuating politicians are controlled by ‘rich Jews’.
On Feb. 10, journalist Glenn Greenwald tweeted a link to an article in which House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., threatened to take “action” against Omar and Tlaib for the two new Muslim members of Congress’ criticisms of Israel. Greenwald said it was “stunning” how much American politicians defend Israel.
Congresswoman @IlhanMN deleted these anti-Semitic tweets today. pic.twitter.com/Vz7nn0W9WM
— Jerry Dunleavy (@JerryDunleavy) February 26, 2019
“It’s all about the Benjamins baby,” Omar tweeted in reply.
When another Twitter user asked the Somali-American congresswoman who she thought was paying those politicians, Omar tweeted, “AIPAC!” The American Israel Public Affairs Committee is one of the largest pro-Israel lobbying organizations in the U.S.
Amid the uproar, Omar issued an “apology”.
“Anti-Semitism is real and I am grateful for Jewish allies and colleagues who are educating me on the painful history of anti-Semitic tropes My intention is never to offend my constituents or Jewish Americans as a whole,” Omar stated. “We have to always be willing to step back and think through criticism, just as I expect people to hear me when others attack me for my identity. This is why I unequivocally apologize.”
Many in the GOP called Democratic leadership to remove Omar from the House Foreign Affairs Committee. President Donald Trump slammed her “lame” apology and called on her to resign from Congress.
Democrat Rep. Ilhan Omar is deleting her anti-Semitic tweets.
But deleting tweets doesn’t change that she still supports the anti-Semitic BDS movement to boycott and delegitimize Israel.
— Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) February 26, 2019
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13 Responses
She has nothing of which to be fearful. They definitely know so.
Ever the victim.
Intersectionality at its height.
Where is majority leader
New York
Charles Schumer?
I’m anti-zionist… does that make me anti-semitic too?
how is she an antisemite, criticizing the gov. of israel is not antisemitic
I said it before and I say it again now after listening to this clip. We are not helping our cause by calling her an antisemite every time she sticks up for the Palestinians or says something negative about Israel. She was born and raised a muslim. She has been taught the Palestinian version of history she is not going to change her views just because she got elected to Congress. I think the askanim out there have to face the facts that it is only a matter of time before a muslim is elected to higher office in places like New York or New jersey at that time screaming anti-semite will make us look like idiots. There are many issues that we can find common ground start with those and perhaps then we can mitigate any damage they will want to do to Israel.
Insinuating thst jews use their money to control politics has nothing to do with israel and everything to do with anti semitic views. Did u ever hear joe lieberman make disparaging comments about muslims just because hes a jew?But i agree shes muslim and we might as well accept that she will be anti semitc….
Well lady, if the shoe fits…
“Darn these Jews, with their figuring out I hate them.”
Deport her and her husband who is also her brother back to Somalia where they belong.
Here you go, Democrats race-baiting like they do best. We call out anti-Semitism regardless of nationality. Just look at Jeremy Corbyn.
TME and TTSC, yes, you are both antisemites. Criticizing a specific government or specific policy may or may not be antisemitic, depending what the policy is and why you’re criticizing it, but criticizing the existence of the state and advocating its replacement by a “Palestinian” state is outright antisemitism.
I just have one question.
Since she has the right to wear her thing on her head as a religious article, have any of the allegedly Jewish congressmen, especially the allegedly religious Jewish congressmen, begun wearing a yarmulke in the House Chamber? I think not.
What about it EE, representative of Riverdale and its surrounding area? Where’s your yarmulke? You are going to let a shiksa be frummer than you?