‘Clarifies’ comparison to terror groups
Rep. Ilhan Omar issued a mea culpa Thursday afternoon seeking to “clarify” remarks she made comparing the United States and Israel to Hamas and the Taliban, following criticism from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other leaders of her own Democratic Party.
“On Monday, I asked Secretary of State Antony Blinken about ongoing International Criminal Court investigations. To be clear: the conversation was about accountability for specific incidents regarding those ICC cases, not a moral comparison between Hamas and the Taliban, and the US and Israel,” Omar (D-Minn.) said in a statement. “I was in no way equating terrorist organizations with democratic countries with well-established judicial systems.”
The about-face came in the wake of a demand for clarification from Pelosi as well as Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), Whip James Clyburn (D-SC), Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Deputy Whip Pete Aguilar (D-Calif ).
Omar set off the Democratic firestorm when she tweeted a video of her line of questioning during a hearing with Blinken.
In the clip, Omar says, “We have seen unthinkable atrocities committed by the US, Hamas, Israel, Afghanistan and the Taliban,” and captioned the post, “We must have the same level of accountability and justice for all victims of crimes against humanity.”
Her initial tweet prompted sharp pushback from pro-Israel lawmakers, with 12 Jewish Democrats, led by Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), releasing a joint statement condemning her remarks.
“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.”
While Omar initially blasted the leadership rebuke, accusing her party’s leaders of “harassment” and “Islamophobia,” she ultimately opted to clarify her comments.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) said the House Democratic leadership “should be ashamed of its relentless, exclusive tone policing” women of color in Congress.”
“Freedom of speech doesn’t exist for Muslim women in Congress,” she tweeted. “The benefit of the doubt doesn’t exist for Muslim women in Congress.”
House Democratic leaders later put out a statement praising Omar for her “clarification,” but also saying they feel any rhetoric comparing the United States to terrorist organizations should be condemned.