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Dem Leaders Rebuke Alleged Anti-Semitic Remarks by Rep. Omar

HeadlineMar 05, 2019

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other top Democrats will bring a resolution condemning anti-Semitism to a House vote Wednesday, in a direct rebuke of recent comments by Minnesota Congressmember Ilhan Omar questioning the U.S.’s relationship with Israel. The draft resolution does not explicitly name the freshman congressmember but comes after recent comments by Omar at an event last week, in which she called out the “political influence in this country that says it is OK for people to push for allegiance to a foreign country”—referring to Israel.

After several lawmakers publicly attacked Omar over the weekend, the congressmember defended her comments on Twitter Sunday, writing, “I am told everyday that I am anti-American if I am not pro-Israel. I find that to be problematic and I am not alone. I just happen to be willing to speak up on it and open myself to attacks.” While critical of Israeli state policy toward Palestinians, Omar has repeatedly condemned anti-Semitism.

Fellow Congressmember Rashida Tlaib—who, along with Omar, was the first female Muslim elected to Congress—has expressed support for Omar, as did New York Congressmember Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Meanwhile, the hashtag #IStandWithIlhan has been gaining steam on social media as progressive Jewish groups and defenders of Palestinian rights voice their support for the congressmember.

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