Democratic members of the House of Representatives released a statement Wednesday night condemning Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar after she appeared to liken the United States and Israel to the Taliban and Hamas in a Monday tweet.
A group of 12 Democrats, led by Illinois Rep. Brad Schneider, released a joint statement calling Omar out.
“Equating the United States and Israel to Hamas and the Taliban is as offensive as it is misguided,” the statement said. “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.”
“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 Congresswoman Omar to clarify her words placing the US and Israel in the same category as Hamas and the Taliban.”
Group of House Democrats is out with a statement tonight condemning Ilhan Omar’s recent comments, saying they “give cover to terrorist groups.” pic.twitter.com/kDxSkb7OCi
— Andrew Desiderio (@AndrewDesiderio) June 10, 2021
Jewish Democrats met Wednesday to discuss antisemitism and considered naming Omar in a statement condemning her remakers, The Times of Israel reported. The 25-member unofficial House caucus had met one other time recently to discuss the rise of antisemitic attacks in the wake of escalating tensions between Israel and Palestine. (RELATED: Joe Biden Remains Silent On Wave Of Anti-Semitic Crimes In US)
The Wednesday meeting focused on a Monday tweet from Omar where she decried “crimes against humanity” and asked Secretary of State Antony Blinken why the Biden administration opposes a potential probe of some countries for allegedly committing war crimes.
“We must have the same level of accountability and justice for all victims of crimes against humanity,” Omar said in her tweet. “We have seen unthinkable atrocities committed by the U.S., Hamas, Israel, Afghanistan, and the Taliban.”
We must have the same level of accountability and justice for all victims of crimes against humanity.
We have seen unthinkable atrocities committed by the U.S., Hamas, Israel, Afghanistan, and the Taliban.
I asked @SecBlinken where people are supposed to go for justice. pic.twitter.com/tUtxW5cIow
— Rep. Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan) June 7, 2021
Two sources told The Times of Israel that several lawmakers in the meeting wanted to issue a statement saying Omar’s tweet “discredited” the Democratic party. The statement was the first time that members called out another Democrat by name for statements about Israel, according to the report. (RELATED: Katie Pavlich Tears Into ‘The Squad’ For ‘Lies’ On Israel That Preceded Anti-Semitic Mob Attacks)
Sources on the call told The Times of Israel that nobody called Omar’s tweet antisemitic.
Omar’s tweet sparked outrage from people prominent in the pro-Israel movement.
David Harris, the American Jewish Committee CEO, said on Twitter that Omar’s post was “beyond shocking” and “beyond reprehensible.”
“Will members of her own party speak up?” he added.
“How can a member of Congress compare Israel & the US — two vibrant democracies with robust legal systems & militaries that strive to avoid civilian casualties — with jihadi terrorists who purposely murder civilians?” Gilad Erdan, the Israeli ambassador to Washington and the United Nations, said. “The difference should be clear to everyone.”
Omar called the Democrats’ statement rebuking her “islamophobic” and “offensive.”
“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,” she said. “The islamophobic tropes in this statement are offensive. The constant harassment & silencing from the signers of this letter is unbearable.”
Michigan Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib agreed with Omar.
“I am tired of colleagues (both D+R) demonizing @IlhanMN,” Tlaib said Thursday morning on Twitter. “Their obsession with policing her is sick. She has the courage to call out human rights abuses no matter who is responsible. That’s better than colleagues who look away if it serves their politics.”