Rep. Ilhan Omar’s latest remarks about Israel and Jewish members of Congress have sparked backlash, as the Minnesota Democrat expressed zero regret for comparing Israel to Hamas and the Taliban.
In a CNN interview on Tuesday, Omar said she does not regret her tweet from earlier this month in which she lumped Israel, the U.S., Hamas, and the Taliban together. When asked if she knows why fellow Democrats – particularly Jews – found previous comments of hers about Israel to be anti-Semitic, Omar accused them of not being “partners in justice” while claiming that she herself “knows what it feels like to experience injustice in ways that many of my colleagues don’t.”
The interview sparked swift backlash on social media.
“Omar’s comments draw on classic antisemitic themes about Jewish clannishness, the notion that Jews only look out for themselves. They’re also plainly false,” said Avi Mayer of the American Jewish Committee. “Jewish lawmakers have been on the front lines, fighting for human rights in America and globally.”
Omar's comments draw on classic antisemitic themes about Jewish clannishness, the notion that Jews only look out for themselves.
They're also plainly false.
Jewish lawmakers have been on the front lines, fighting for human rights in America and globally.https://t.co/FEJmwu1JeT
— Avi Mayer (@AviMayer) June 30, 2021
“So Jews should learn from @IlhanMN what it’s like to experience injustice?” questioned journalist Annika Rothstein. “No one can ever say Ilhan Omar didn’t show the world exactly who and what she is.”
So Jews should learn from @IlhanMN what it’s like to experience injustice? 🤯🤯🤯🤯
No one can ever say Ilhan Omar didn’t show the world exactly who and what she is. https://t.co/1zaHLeAVlj— Annika H Rothstein (@truthandfiction) June 30, 2021
The condemnation has not been solely from Jews. Asra Nomani, vice president of Parents Defending Education and cofounder of the Muslim Reform Movement, had perhaps the harshest criticism of Omar.
“This is what a modern day Muslim Supremacist looks like,” Nomani tweeted. “Ilhan Omar speaks to @jaketapper + rebukes Jewish Democratic colleagues for failing to be ‘partners in injustice.’ Her wound is bigger than their wound—a wound collector in the Oppression Olympics.”
This is what a modern day Muslim Supremacist looks like. Ilhan Omar speaks to @jaketapper + rebukes Jewish Democratic colleagues for failing to be “partners in injustice.” Her wound is bigger than their wound—a wound collector in the Oppression Olympics. pic.twitter.com/IaPPJ1LqFU
— Asra Q. Nomani (@AsraNomani) June 30, 2021
Zionist Organization of America president Morton Klein called Omar an “[i]gnorant antisemite,” calling for Democrats “to condemn her&remove her from every committee.”
Ignorant antisemite Ilhan Omar supports BDS,says Israel hypnotizes world,compares US and Israel to terrorist Taliban&Hamas, yet Pelosi calls Omar a “valued member”of her party&refuses to criticize her. It’s high time for her party to condemn her&remove her from every committee.
— Morton Klein (@MortonAKlein7) June 30, 2021
The Republican Jewish Coalition called on their Democratic counterparts to “join us in calling out” Omar.
Jay Sekulow, attorney for former President Donald Trump, similarly said that Omar “is past due to be censured & removed from committees,” calling her “a repeat offender for antisemitic rhetoric.”
Rep. Ilhan Omar is a repeat offender for antisemitic rhetoric & is past due to be censured & removed from committees.
Recently she went as far as comparing the U.S. & Israel to the Taliban & Hamas terrorists. Fight back against antisemitism – sign. https://t.co/1oGpimh73y— Jay Sekulow (@JaySekulow) June 26, 2021
Seth Mandel of the Washington Examiner Magazine said it is only a matter of time before Omar completely alienates herself.
“Everybody’s got a line. If she stays in Congress long enough she’ll cross everyone’s,” he said.
Every time this happens a couple more ppl are like "That's it, I'm out." At some point it just gets too exhausting to keep giving her mulligans. Last ones off the sinking ship will be ADL and JDCA, to our ppl's everlasting shame. pic.twitter.com/JKCi4nDGSM
— Seth Mandel (@SethAMandel) June 30, 2021
Story cited here.