Dozens of House Democrats Condemn Ilhan Omar for Equating U.S., Israel With Hamas, Taliban

Ilhan Omar white men

A dozen House Democrats demanded Rep. Ilhan Omar clarify remarks she made on Monday equating the U.S. and Israel to Hamas and the Taliban.

“We must have the same level of accountability and justice for all victims of crimes against humanity,” Omar said to Secretary of State Antony Blinken. “We have seen unthinkable atrocities committed by the U.S., Hamas, Israel, Afghanistan, and the Taliban.”

Omar wanted Blinken to explain “where people are supposed to go for justice.”

The group of Democrats, all Jewish, issued a joint statement, saying Omar’s remark “reflects deep-seated prejudice.”

“Equating the United States and Israel to Hamas and the Taliban is as offensive as it is misguided,” said the lawmakers. “Ignoring the differences between democracies governed by the rule of law and contemptible organizations that engage in terrorism at best discredits one’s intended argument and at worst reflects deep-seated prejudice.”

They concluded: “The United States and Israel are imperfect and like all democracies, at times deserving of critique, but false equivalencies give cover to terrorist groups. We urge Congressman Omar to clarify her words placing the US and Israel in the same category as Hamas and the Taliban.”

The statement came from:

Phillips has lashed out numerous times at his colleagues for their anti-Israel rhetoric. For example, he told CNN that they stoke anti-Semitism when they call “Israel a terrorist or an apartheid state.”

Omar implied the 12 Democrats are Islamaphobic.

“It’s shameful for colleagues who call me when they need my support to now put out a statement asking for ‘clarification’ and not just call,” Omar whined on Twitter. “The islamophobic tropes in this statement are offensive. The constant harassment & silencing from the signers of this letter is unbearable.”

Omar added in a follow-up tweet: “Citing an open case against Israel, US, Hamas & Taliban in the ICC isn’t comparison or from ‘deeply seated prejudice’. You might try to undermine these investigations or deny justice to their victims but history has thought [sic] us that the truth can’t be hidden or silenced forever.”

The tension has been building between the House and the ladies in the “Squad.” The ladies have a history of anti-Semitism, especially Omar.

The last link has examples of Omar’s other anti-Semitic tweets.

In March 2019, the House voted and passed a resolution condemning anti-Semitism but did not mention Omar by name. Rep. Deutch, who signed the latest statement, helped write the resolution:

He noted it isn’t the first time Omar has faced accusations of anti-Semitism. Omar backtracked in January from a 2012 tweet amid the Gaza War saying “Israel has hypnotized the world,” as well as from tweets last month suggesting that U.S. lawmakers defending Israel were motivated by campaign donations.”We are having this debate because of the language of one of our colleagues. Language that suggests that Jews like me who serve in the United States in Congress and whose father earned a Purple Heart fighting the Nazis in the Battle of Bulge, that we are not loyal Americans? Why are we unable to singularly condemn anti-Semitism?” Deutch said in a speech on the House floor.”Anti-Semitism is worthy of being taken seriously on its own. It’s worthy of being singularly called out.”

Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) decided to jump into the fray and also make it about her.

Tags: Antisemitism, Democrats, Ilhan Omar, Taliban, US House

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