Comments on Israel prompt apology
WASHINGTON — Rep. Ilhan Omar, who has been battling charges of anti-semitism for weeks, apologized Monday for insinuating that U.S. support for Israel is fueled by money from a pro-israel lobbying group — a comment that drew swift and unqualified condemnation from fellow Democrats on Monday, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
“Anti-semitism is real and I am grateful for Jewish allies and colleagues who are educating me on the painful history of anti-semitic tropes,” Omar, a freshman Democrat from Minnesota and one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress, said in a statement. “My intention is never to offend my constituents or Jewish Americans as a whole.”
She added, “I unequivocally apologize.” But she did not back away from her contention that the American Israel Public Affairs Committee has too much power in Washington. “At the same time, I reaffirm the problematic role of lobbyists in our politics, whether it be AIPAC, the NRA or the fossil fuel industry,” Omar wrote.
Her comments came after Pelosi and the entire House Democratic leadership issued a statement condemning her for tweeting Sunday night that support for Israel was “all about the Benjamins, baby,” a reference to hundred-dollar bills. And when a Jewish journalist asked whom Omar was referring to when she suggested that money was driving U.S. policy regarding Israel, Omar responded by saying “AIPAC!” The committee does not contribute to political campaigns, but its conferences and congressional trips to Israel have long drawn enthusiastic and bipartisan participation. Omar
The five House Democratic leaders, in a statement, said: “Legitimate criticism of Israel’s policies is protected by the values of free speech and democratic debate that the United States and Israel share. But Congresswoman Omar’s use of anti-semitic tropes and prejudicial accusations about Israel’s supporters is deeply offensive. ‘We condemn these remarks and we call upon Congresswoman Omar to immediately apologize for these hurtful comments. As Democrats and as Americans, the entire Congress must be fully engaged in denouncing and rejecting all forms of hatred, racism, prejudice and discrimination wherever they are encountered.”
Pelosi said she had spoken with Omar and they “agreed that we must use this moment to move forward as we reject anti-semitism in all forms.”
The controversy came on top of earlier flashpoints that pitted Omar against Israel’s fiercest supporters in Congress.
Last month, she told Yahoo! News that when politicians “still uphold” Israel “as a democracy in the Middle East, I almost chuckle.” In 2012, she tweeted, “Israel has hypnotized the world, may Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel.”
AIPAC has been accused by some of infusing a one-sided view of the Israel-palestinian conflict into U.S. politics. Tlaib, a Palestinian American, has been trying to organize her own congressional trip to the West Bank to give lawmakers the Palestinian side.
In a statement, AIPAC said: “We are proud that we are engaged in the democratic process to strengthen the U.s.-israel relationship. Our bipartisan efforts are reflective of American values and interests. We will not be deterred in any way by ill-informed and illegitimate attacks on this important work.”