A new day is trying to be born in Washington. Young progressive members of Congress are pushing the envelope as they promised in their campaigns. But changes do not come easily.
Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, a Somali-American Muslim, is under fierce attack, even from members of her party, for criticizing American political allegiance to Israel. A few weeks ago she said that money, presumably from lobbyists like AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee), was at fault.
That was not anti-Semitic but could be argued as such, so she apologized. However, please see the article from a Jewish American lobbyist who agrees with what Rep. Omar said.
More recently she has had more to say about the relative lack of criticism from Congress of Israel’s treatment the Palestinians. And the verbal attacks escalated. Overkill is occurring. While she is attacking policies of members of Congress, she is being accused of anti-semitism.
Democratic leaders in the House of Representatives are participating with Republicans in making a formal rebuke of Representative Omar. Her impassioned statement was not anti-Semitic. See excerpts from her comments in an article that calls the attacks on Ilhan Omar a travesty.
The Congressional Black Caucus and many others are coming to Representative Omar’s defense—as they should. Further, Democratic presidential candidates Sens. Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris, and Elizabeth Warren defended Rep. Omar.
Senator Sanders, who is Jewish and a longtime critic of the Israeli government’s treatment of the Palestinians, said criticism of Omar and efforts to get her taken off the House Foreign Affairs Committee, primarily from Republicans, are aimed at stopping a discussion about American’s foreign policy toward Israel. I would add—a long overdue discussion.
Sanders went on to say that “we must not equate anti-Semitism, a hateful and dangerous ideology, with legitimate criticism of the right-wing, Netanyahu government in Israel.”
Elizabeth Warren said, “We have a moral duty to combat hateful ideologies in our own country and around the world — and that includes both anti-Semitism and Islamophobia . . . In a democracy, we can and should have an open, respectful debate about the Middle East that focuses on policy. Branding criticism of Israel as automatically anti-Semitic has a chilling effect on our public discourse and makes it harder to achieve a peaceful solution between Israelis and Palestinians. Threats of violence — like those made against Rep. Omar — are never acceptable.”
From Kamala Harris: “We all have a responsibility to speak out against anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, Transphobia, racism, and all forms of hatred and bigotry . . . but like some of my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus, I am concerned that the spotlight being put on Congresswoman Omar may put her at risk.”
She added, “ There is a difference between criticism of policy or political leaders and anti-Semitism. At the end of the day, we need a two-state solution and a commitment to peace, human rights, and democracy by all leaders in the region—and a commitment by our country to help achieve that.”
Amen.