Source: AP Photo/Jim Mone
Following mounting criticism about her anti-Israeli
sentiments in Congress, and on Twitter, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) was compelled to
release the following statement. In it, she thanks her Jewish colleagues for
"educating" her on the harms of anti-Semitism. She
"unequivocally apologizes" for her rhetoric.
Judging by her extra note at the bottom of the above
"apology," however, she doesn't exactly feel bad about accusing
Republicans of supporting Israel because of the fundraising that accompanies
it. "It's all about the Benjamins baby," she wrote on Twitter over
the weekend.
It's all about the
Benjamins baby
---
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Omar has also tweeted her belief that Israel has
"hypnotized the world." As recently as last month, she wondered aloud how those sentiments could be
interpreted as offensive. She also knowingly supports the BDS movement, a
campaign that promotes the boycotting of Israeli goods and services. When Manu
Raju tried to get an explanation out of her, she ran away.
Omar's recent remarks have been received so poorly that
Democratic leadership distanced themselves from her on Monday.
"Congresswoman Omar’s use of anti-Semitic tropes and
prejudicial accusations about Israel’s supporters is deeply offensive,"
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democratic leaders wrote. "We condemn these remarks and we call upon
Congresswoman Omar to immediately apologize for these hurtful comments."
___________________
RELATED
ARTICLE
Hmm: Rep. Tlaib Once Wrote a Column for
Notorious Anti-Semite Farrakhan's Publication
Source: (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Freshman Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib once wrote a
column for the Nation of Islam’s publication, Final Call, whose leader is
notorious anti-Semite Louis Farrakhan.
“Lost in the often-vitriolic national quarrel over
immigration reform is any examination of proposed measures that would result in
excessive punishment, such as detention and deportation, for the most minor
offenses,” the Palestinian-American congresswoman wrote in the 2006 column.
“Concern for 'national security' has introduced unprecedented insecurity to
living in the United States as a legal permanent resident.”
The column, which is not accessible online, was unearthed
by blogger
Jeryl Bier.
"The article is
entitled "Bills must stop deportations for minor offenses" and
addressed the problem of legal immigrants deported for technicalities and other
relatively minor issues," he wrote on his blog.
Since
the time of Tlaib’s writing, Final
Call has published numerous articles espousing anti-Semitic
conspiracies with headlines such as “Racist Rabbis: A Long History of Jewish
Race-Haters,” “The Secret Relationship Between Rappers and Jews,” and “Solving
The Mystery of Jewish Financial Success,” among others. Tlaib has not published
in the outlet since her initial 2006 column.
Tlaib
has faced significant criticism since her election over her ties to
anti-Semitic Palestinian activists and her support for the Boycott, Divestment,
and Sanctions movement, which seeks to put financial pressure on Israel. In
January, she attended a dinner with Palestinian activist Abbas Hamideh, who has
referred to Israel as a “terrorist identity” and likened the state’s underlying
ideology to that of ISIS.
Additionally,
one of Tlaib’s top fundraisers, Maher Abdel-qader, has repeatedly espoused
anti-Semitic tropes online. Abdel-qader also created the Facebook group
“Palestinian American Congress,” which often hosts anti-Semitic discussions and
which Tlaib is a member of, the Daily
Caller reported last month. (National Review)
While Tlaib's office did not respond to Bier for comment,
a spokesperson did issue a statement to Business Insider.
