A New Anti-Semitic Allegation Is Jolting the House

Rep. Ilhan Omar may be rebuked, but she's pushing back against critics
By Newser Editors,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 5, 2019 11:40 AM CST
Freshman Congresswoman Is Back in Controversy
In this Feb. 5, 2019, photo, Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., arrives for President Trump's State of the Union speech to a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington. Omar’s latest remarks about Israel are prompting House Democrats to draft a resolution condemning anti-Semitism.   (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

It's easy to name the newest member of Congress making the most headlines: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. But another freshman lawmaker continues to generate controversy of her own, and it's about to intensify this week. Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Muslim Somali-American, is again under fire for statements seen as anti-Semitic. And while the Minnesota representative has apologized previously for similar controversies, this time she is doubling down while denying the anti-Semitic allegations. The details of what's going on:

  • What she said: Speaking last week in reference to Israel and its supporters in the US, Omar said, "I want to talk about the political influence in this country that says it is OK to push for allegiance to a foreign country," reports NPR.
  • The backlash: Critics pounced on that statement as anti-Semitic, including Jonathan Greenblatt of the Anti-Defamation League. "Accusing Jews of having allegiance to a foreign government has long been a vile anti-Semitic slur that has been used to harass, marginalize, and persecute the Jewish people for centuries," wrote Greenblatt to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

  • From colleagues: Democratic Rep. Eliot Engel, chair of the House Foreign Affairs panel, also called it a "vile anti-Semitic slur." Another Democrat, Rep. Nita Lowey, chair of the Appropriations Committee, called on Omar to apologize, saying she "continues to mischaracterize support for Israel." Rep. Josh Gottheimer, also a Democrat, likened this to when "John F. Kennedy's loyalty was called into question simply because he was Roman Catholic," per the Washington Post.
  • Doubling down: Omar is not apologizing. "Our democracy is built on debate, Congresswoman!" she responded to Lowey. "I should not be expected to have allegiance/pledge support to a foreign country in order to serve my country in Congress or serve on committee." She adds that opposing Benjamin Netanyahu "and the occupation is not the same as being anti-Semitic."
  • Possible rebuke: The House is expected to vote Wednesday on a measure that doesn't mention Omar (at least in its current draft form) but is seen as an "unprecedented public rebuke" of her, per Politico. The resolution condemns anti-Semitism and the "myth of dual loyalty." Republicans are pushing for more, however, including having Omar removed from the Foreign Affairs panel.
  • AOC defends: Ocasio-Cortez is backing up Omar. "One of the things that is hurtful about the extent to which reprimand is sought of Ilhan is that no one seeks this level of reprimand when members make statements about Latinx + other communities (during the shutdown, a GOP member yelled “Go back to Puerto Rico!” on the floor)," she tweeted, one of several on the topic.
  • Trump weighs in: Omar "is again under fire for her terrible comments concerning Israel," he tweeted. "Jewish groups have just sent a petition to Speaker Pelosi asking her to remove Omar from Foreign Relations Committee. A dark day for Israel!"
  • Past controversy: Omar apologized earlier this year after asserting that support for Israel was "all about the Benjamins" and again for a 2012 tweet asserting that Israel had "hypnotized the world." The "Benjamins" comment led to formal criticism in the House for perpetuating "anti-Semitic tropes."
(More Ilhan Omar stories.)

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