Rep. Ilhan Omar is drawing criticism again for comments about Israel — this time suggesting that pro-Israel activists and lawmakers hold “allegiance to a foreign country.”
In a lengthy and blistering rebuke late Friday, Rep. Eliot Engel, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Omar’s remarks amounted to a “vile anti-Semitic slur” and called on the Minnesota Democrat to apologize.“I welcome debate in Congress based on the merits of policy, but it’s unacceptable and deeply offensive to call into question the loyalty of fellow American citizens because of their political views, including support for the U.S.
By signing up you agree to receive email newsletters or alerts from POLITICO. You can unsubscribe at any time.Omar’s latest controversial comments come just a few weeks after she sparked a firestorm of criticism from her fellow Democrats over what they said was a similar anti-Semitic trope. Last month she implied on Twitter that lawmakers’ support for Israel was driven by campaign donations from the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee, a prominent and influential pro-Israel group.
Engel’s statement was in response to Omar’s appearance at an event in Washington earlier this week where she was lamenting that her criticisms of Israel are reflexively dismissed as anti-Semitic. Omar, who is Muslim, later said: “I want to talk about the political influence in this country that says it is O.K. for people to push for allegiance to a foreign country.”
While Omar has seen members of her own party turn on her amid the recent controversies, Republicans have been even more critical of her, with many calling on Speaker Nancy Pelosi to kick her off of the Foreign Affairs Committee. They’ve also used Omar’s comments and views on Israel to paint the entire Democratic party as extreme.on Friday, a poster of Omar appeared to connect her to the 9/11 terror attacks.
So maybe, just maybe, this kind of thing might be relevant and should be included in a piece like desiderioDC here wrote
The question is when is Dem leadership going to call her out? Pelosi is MIA! LiberalHypocrisy
It's a terrible start to a new Congress for Christians & Jews to attack a woman Muslim for expressing her all-to-correct views about Israel. Christian Congress members support apartheid Israel for the US Jewish vote and could care less about Jews. It's a 2000-year old prejudice.
We need to realize that in our diversity, there are misunderstood or misguided beliefs. Discussion of them helps everyone learn and become more open, leading to teachable moments and understanding. Condemning or threatening one who has stated something offensive is over-reacting.
Anyone who questions the alligence of Americans to Israel, is ignorant of what Israel means toAmerica and the world. Especially their contributions in science and medicine. They are our eyes where we need them.
She raises a good point. It is hard to be objective about policies toward Israel because the topic is so emotional. It will be interesting to hear new viewpoints.
They need to respect her freedom of speech rights. Her constituents can decide if they disagree or want her to act differently.
Did you find a pro-Israel lawmaker that has taken no money from pro-Israel donors? That would be an interesting to find. I mean if you're not busy.
To pretend that her comments are offensive is in itself offensive. American values should not extend to Israel anymore than to the shithole countries in Africa. You if you wish may extend aleigence to Israel and being a Muslim she has the right to her thoughts. 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
Maybe not the topic but let me drop this here............. I have a problem with dual citizenship. Period. Choose.
She's just plain silly. Why don't we all just learn to ignore her.
What's the lie? It's not from Rep. Omar.
She sort of has a gd point...they seem rep israel ...more than US and frankly getting into ISRAEL affairs creates the shitmess we have.
True, absolutely true. Once, America was an important arbiter of peace in the Middle East. Now we are “all in” with Israel. The US has a limited role other than to fund and endorse right-wing Israel policies.
Ok, make a note everyone: no one, especially not that hijab wearing Muslim IlhanMN can *ever* criticize anything regarding Israel. It is anti-Semitism.
Recall when Obama negotiated the Iran deal Senator Ben Cardin, MD said he voted against it because of my rabbi, code for Israel
I dont expect much from an incest bride
Besides rephrasing Rep Iran Omar remark as a slur, is there fact base evidence that supports her observation?
Apologize your A, How about calling for her impeachment.
Why is she even in our office she will NEVER ASSAMALITE isn’t that against our CONSTITUTION?
At this pace will she finish out her term?
I wonder how he feels about Catholics...
She has to be removed from foreign affairs. I don't think Pelosi is all there anymore placing this malfeasance in such a position. Worse she gives permission to all the antisemitic trolls to express their hate openly. Who are the Nazi's now?
Fake rage Think deeper folks. U can criticize our country’s relationship with any country and not be anti-[whatever country it is]. Just like U can criticize NATO allies for not paying fair share of joint defense without being anti-NATO
tsdavis05 Ilhan Omar, should be Impeach immediately, she hates this country and everything that the Americans care about, including the traditional Democrats, they too care about Israel! She doesn’t has a place to be in Congress!
Ilhan Omar was not commenting about Israel. She was making false accusations about Americans who support Israel.
I disagree. Anti Semitic does not mean you cannot criticize the Israeli government or its policies especially since their crooked prime minister is under indictment!
Israel is not above criticism.
Did you sign the bill you can't criticize,o excuse me .You can't boycott Israel.Did you ?HOW MUCH MONEY has the JEWISH lobby given you.Did you all know that int he congress THEY GIVE tour of ISRAEL for all incoming FRESHMEN. To understand them BETTER LIKE Bi bi.
AND A bully who pick on black muslim women because you and your kind want a BLACK PROP of some kind of difference in PEOPLE you not special only to SLAVES and the un inform. LIKE those who want to make a law to you can't boycott ISRAEL. DID you sign on to that bill CONGRESSMAN .
Although I am not a trump supporter, I see some Democrats like Engle questioning his allegiance to the country and calling him Putin puppet. Yet they are outraged when their “allegiance” to Israel is questioned.
And who we can LIKE are over now .Congressman what part of what she said is un true then we will call her your names.If not you have been BRANDED what you want in others.ANTI BLACKMITE and you support ANTI BLACKISM. And you are the RACIST.
How is saying lawmakers hold “allegiance to a foreign country' anti-semitic?
IlhanMN is being targeted for violence by WVGOP. And you're ignoring it because she is a Black woman.
And what will dems do about it? Nothing. The PartyOfHate is also the party of lawlessness and party lacking balls.
Screw him. ALL PACS are about money in politics. She wasn’t wrong. How many other countries in the world get the same kind of funding from the US like Israel gets? She could have easily said the same thing about NRA or Big Pharma.
I am so happy to see that so many Americans are supporting her and start speaking up against our Congressman and Senators for their blind love for Israel. We need to make America great again by not supporting Israeli agenda in this country
I am very pro-Israel and I absolutely agree with her.
Democrats support so called democracy in Israel (Actually Apartheid) as they supported Iraq war to create democracy on top of Arabs Muslims and Christians corpses throughout the Middle East. They never stood up for victims then but rush to support Israel whenever criticized. $$$$
I wonder if RepEliotEngel has read THE ISRAEL LOBBY AND U.S. FOREIGN POLICY by Univ of Chicago Political Science professor John Mearsheimer and John F Kennedy Sch of Goverment/Harvard professor Stephen Walt
Explain why you vote for every bill supporting Israel, foreign aid & never criticized Israel & always spewing hate toward the Palestinian victims and their cause. Why do you support apartheid, occupation and oppression. Mr Engle show me one Important vote you took against Israel?
Keep up the good work IlhanMN. They think we do not know that. They criticize Russia, Syria, Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, etc: We do not say their criticism is racism or xenophobia but exactly what it is, doing Israel reads. They supported Iraq war almost 100%. Wonder why?
Netanyahu is a bad actor and we shouldn’t enable him.
She's right.
It seems ridiculous in this country that if you say one thing about Israel you’re automatically described as antisemitic.
Don't Israelis have dual citizenship?
Engel is one of those Dems who is right on almost every issue but are tone deaf on Israel. He has an uncritical bias that favors Israel in EVERYTHING. It’s on his political record.
Is she lying?
They have automatic dual citizenship.
Yet he says nothing about the racists in WV who put up that disgusting poster targeting her. Why am I not surprised?
Send her home. She clearly despiseS OUR Nation.
It is not credible to attack her. She has every right to criticize any organization which advocates for a FOREIGN country.
It’s time to take her out of office
Why is Omar being allowed to continue in office? Not only is she infuriating Republicans and Independents-anybody with an active brain-but there have to be some intelligent Democrats left who do not want to be associated with anti-Semitic garbage such as she spews out.
Is she wrong though?
Will someone tell some of these new 10 minute congresspeople to think before they open their mouth or tweet
Opposing Israeli policy is not anti-semetic. Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group. Israel is a state or government. See the difference?
A bit like the Trump family and their Kremlin links... lol
As much as we hate Trump so do ppl who hate on Israel's attacks on Palestine. SIT DOWN!
What Netanyahu is no different than Trump so what if she calls out his criminality. genocide and the ppl of Israel's opposition to his Authoritarian Reign. You can stop attempting to demonize IlhanMN it's not going to work. SIT DOWN!
Et tu AnnCoulter?
She’s right.
But they do? The Stand with Israel signs that perpetually exist in some neighborhoods and the automatic OUTRAGE at anyone questioning Israeli motives or actions? HOW IS SHE WRONG!?!
Texas forced government employees to sign something stating they will never boycott Israel. Seems to me that she is correct.
As does she
She's not wrong
That is what’s happening. What country has a bigger influence in American politics than Israel? What country has larger support groups in America than Israel ? How much money does Israel spend to buy American support. Netanyahu is the Trump of the Middle East.
1) It's about time someone speaks out on this forcefully. Israel has every right to exist. But it possesses the resources and capabilities to greatly ameliorate the plight of the Palestinians. It also should jettison the corrupt fascists from its government like Netanyahu.
Looks like this reaction just proved her point. Are the United States congressmen and senators beholden to the United States constitution or the likud party
Perhaps the best response is thank you for your input, sir.
This person Omar has got to go!! Get her out of our government!! Better yet out of our country!!!!!
GOD the GOP is very sensitive right now.
How is this arabic party of hate allowed. Love is the cloak of humanity which must be worn by all or perish.
vote him out of office.
Woah, so if people are pro-Israel that means they’re pro-Israel? How dare she! Meanwhile if you’re offended by the genocide being carried out against the Palestinians you’re an anti-Semitic terrorist
I agree with her on all things Israel.
Ms. Omar under the US Constitution you have the right to say what you want as a private citizen. You were elected by your constituents, which will make several people of your district unhappy. You were asked to apologize once. Think before you open your mouth!
Pointing out that politicians are loyal to money and the people who give it to them is not necessarily anti-Semitic.
Well they kinda do... Truth hurts I guess
The govt of Israel (likud, Netanyahu) is not the state of Israel just like the idiot, 45*, is not the USA. But saying that both men and both parties that they rep are wrong is neither anti Semitic or anti American. It’s just correct. Calling out Aipac is not anti Semitic
If the shoe fits.
That doesn't seem problematic to me
As a pro ISIS moslem sympathizer, the hate filled anti Semitic ilhan has demonstrated that she is a domestic enemy of the USA.
kentingley the truth is often uncomfortable. both sides of this hatred need to come together and take responsibility for their part. ilhan deserves credit for forcing the issue. follow the money.
She needs to remember she is in the United States
The followers of Louis Farrahkhan, do not apologize, better ask someone who cares!
Ilhan is correct about american Jews
Nice ratio
He must be on the take too.
Classic antisemitic charge, allegiance to a foreign country. Why doesn't pro-Palestinian (or pro-any state other than Israel) get the same accusation? You can disagree with their positions, but the charge is clearly not deserved for voicing opinions about world affairs.
If you support civil rights in the US and oppose them, as Zionists do, in Israel, then you have divided principles, and divided loyalty.
We have people in our country who support dictators who are in reality, our fiercest enemies.
I see no lies
She is correct though...
This is ridiculous Criticizing blind support for a corrupt and destructive government in Isrsel, by a lobbying group that was willing to undermine and embarass Obama with this awful Israeli “leader”,does not in any way represent anti semitism to this Jew, no matter who says it.
How many of the people who say this is racist also laugh at and tell Jewish jokes?
Duh
This isn’t anti-Semitism, it’s someone suggesting some lawmakers are corrupt, or have other interests driving their policy. She’s not discriminating against, or displaying any hostility towards, Jews.
It wasn’t okay to accuse Catholics of undying loyalty to the Pope and it’s not okay to accuse Jews of undying loyalty to Israel
Even Rep.Cummngs felt it necessary to protect himself against such gratuitous attacks !Hence his reminding the committee of his sharecropper family heritage and his two daughters !
TheDemocrats have a huge problem with Ilhan . She is openly showing what Democrats believe in private. The time is not right to unmask that part. AntiSemitic bds MuslimBrotherhood Israel DemocratsHateAmerica
Not much different than what many Americans of multiple heritages have been saying for decades.
There is more criticism of the current Israeli Govt’s policies in Israel than by leaders of either mainstream party or major media orgs in US. E
I may not agree with her and feel she is anti-Semitic but doesn’t she have the right to speak her mind with these opinions? Our president says so much worse !
He needs to be primaried if he can’t decide what country he works for.
Religion should be removed from politics.
She's telling the TRUTH !!!!
To avoid real issues whether with people or countries. using racism is the surest way to throw the real issue of the rails. When a bad act or bad policy is at the core of a discussion. Stick to the issue and don't be drawn into their trap. Take control, drive your valid point.
PrimaryEngel
Anyone that agrees with Ilhan & criticizes Israel will be labeled as an antisemite (and you’re probably a Hamas lover as well). Those are the rules now
I agree with her We give them way too much money
The more supporters of Israel keep demonizing people who have honest criticisms of Israel's behavior as anti-semitic, the quicker they will lose the support of the next generation of Americans. Keep it up. Taking down Ilhan Omar will be a pyrrhic victory.
How is that wrong? They are worried about Israel above all. They are paid by pro-Israel groups. They are being paid by pro-Russia groups and people have been critical of that, I don't hear anyone saying that's anti-Orthodox Christianity.
What happened to freedom of speech?
CIA JohnBrennan She is right!
How do you explain a Congressman who supports US funding of free education and health care for Israelis, but not for his constituents in New York State?
A politician cannot have two masters especially when the first master is culture and religion, how can you expect an immigrant from a backward country to put the country that has taken them in first, there is always a foot in the past
Kinda seemed like a fair point. Tangentially...people VOTED for a dude with that moustache?! Dude should be doing 70s pornos...
Rep Omar is clueless about the role Israel plays in the Middle East or the history of those who inhabit its borders. Yes, Netanyahu is a crook who panders to the extreme religious right, but that does not condemn the nation or the socialist ideal on which it was founded.
why do you keep reposting this? you know it's bullshit. shame on you. Israel an be criticized as much as any other country, and can its supporters.
On the matter of Israel, and pro-Israel activists holding allegiance to a foreign nation, I'm afraid Rep. Ilhan Omar is preciently on point. That fact was conclusively demonstrated in John Boehner's Congress when Israel's now unindicted co-conspirator PM Netanyahu...
She's spot on. Schumer is the worst of the bunch.
BEING ANTI-ISRAEL IS NOT ANTI-SEMITISM
ANTI-ZIONIST IS NOT ANTI-ISRAEL. Bibi will be in jail soon......
If this is about Israel country and current admin, netanyahu has been charged with crimes so GOP must be in a bad mood. If she is saying this about Jewish people, that's bigotry and she should go. Luckily it is the first.
Shut up all u puppets of AIPAC. She's 100% right. So go collect your money & try another tactic. Truth hurts. FINALLY someone's awakening the masses. U.S tax payers money is making a lot of people rich on Capital Hill & Tel Aviv. Whilst Americans starve, suffer & die for Zionists
Ban all lobbyists. They corrupt our government. BrokenSystem PaidPuppets
That’s it in a nut shell , the far left is worse than the far right . At least u know where the far right is coming from , far left is more nefarious in their intolerance . Covered up by media more too . Look at the VA 3 now crickets once the Fairfax stories came out
The current government of Israel does not speak for all Jews, and criticizing Bibi and his government is not necessarily anti-Semitic.
Hey cenkuygur better get your puppets back on their Justice Democrat strings. You little plan is gonna backfire on you BIGLY. You mistake was chosing all WOMEN, they are not so easily contolled as men ;)
Now, do the right thing and censure this bigot Omar. Thanks Engel
any politician that receives any money from a foreign government is by definition supportive of that government and that may or may not be in the interests of the US. nothing controversial in her comments
Another winner from Omar
In Islam, you’re allegiance is to your religion 1st & country 2nd. Maybe Omar could address this by pledging her allegiance to the US 1st? She seems to have a very hostile view of Israel that’s consistent with Islamic rhetoric, that’s troubling.
A huge amount of money and support of poor-Israel PACs come from RW American evangelicals who are motivated by religion. Do Catholics owe allegiance to the US or the Pope? It’s the Kennedy argument and it’s an old trope.
And proving Ilhan's point from OpenSecretsDC
Which part of that is either inaccurate or antisemitic?
She's just saying a truth that has needed to be said for a very long time
Please explain how her words constitute “a vile ant-semitic slur?”🙄
Criticizing Israel’s deplorable treatment of the Palestinian people is NOT anti-semitism
She's right. AIPAC is literally a foreign lobby group.
Well the President of the United States sided with a murdeous Dictator that killed an American student. So he wins!! keepwinning arewegreatyet
I love that she tells it like it is. Too bad they can't handle it. That's their problem NOT hers
Amazing how no one can critique an apartheid state like Israel ... maybe she has a point
Surprised? MN-5 was Keith Ellison's district for 6 terms despite his long history of sordid association with anti-Semitism. Ilhan Omar Is picking up where Ellison left off.
She’s a straight-up racist so what do you expect?
Nothing antisemitic about what she said. Maybe anti Israel, but not antisemitic
she is 100% right.
She's not wrong
She needs to go NOW!
She needs to resign........
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