FELLOW DEMOCRAT REPRESENTATIVES SLAM OMAR OVER TWEET
" Ignoring The Difference Between Democracies Governed By The Rule Of Law, To Contemptible Organizations That Engage In Terrorism At Best Discredits One's Intended Argument And At Worst Reflects Deep-Seated Prejudice."
June 11, 2021 By Art Fletcher & Leo Madison Reporting For: Englebrook Independent News,
WASHINGTON,- A dozen Democratic Lawmakers have issued a statement strongly condemning recent remarks made by House Representative Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) who compared Israel and U.S. actions to terrorist groups like Hamas and The Taliban.
In a tweet on Monday she wrote, " We must have the same level of accountability and justice for all victims of crimes against humanity. We have seen unthinkable atrocities committed by the U.S., Hamas, Israel, Afghanistan, and The Taliban."
Her Tweet also included a link to a video, where she questioned U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on America's opposition to the International Criminal Court.
In a written response, a dozen Democrats, Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.), Ted Deutch (D-Fla.), Lois Frankel (D-Fla.), Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), Elaine Luria (D-Va.), Kathy Manning (D-N.C.), Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) Kim Schrier (D-Wash.), Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), and Debbie Wasserman-Schultz (D-Fla.) Published a joint statement on Wednesday Night slamming Omar's remarks.
" Equating The United States and Israel to Hamas and The Taliban is as offensive as it is misguided. Ignoring the difference 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," said the statement.
The statement continued, noting that while America and Israel are " imperfect, like all Democracies," using " false equivalencies give cover to terrorist groups."
The Lawmakers urged Omar to clarify her remarks. Instead she fired back on Thursday morning, accusing Democratic colleagues of using " Islamophobic Tropes."
" The constant harassment and silencing from the signers of this letter is unbearable," she wrote on Twitter.
However, Omar later released a statement on Thursday afternoon, claiming the conversation with Blinken " was about accountability for specific incidents regarding International Criminal Court Cases," and was not " a moral comparison between Hamas and The Taliban and the U.S. and Israel."
" I was in no way equating terrorist organizations with Democratic Countries with well established Judicial Systems."
The remarks by Omar are part of an increasingly critical tone that progressive members of the Democratic Party have taken in recent weeks, aimed at Israel.
During last month's 11-day conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, progressives spoke out forcefully against Israel, accusing Israel of human-rights violations and potential war crimes. They also moved to block a weapon's sale agreement to Israel.
Omar's statement also renewed calls from Republicans to have her removed from the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Many Republicans had opposed her membership on the committee when she was selected by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, in 2019.
" Ilhan Omar must be removed from the House Foreign Affairs Committee," Rep. Lee Zeldin (D-N.Y.) wrote. " She should have never been appointed to this committee in the first place."
Omar has a history of anti-semitic rhetoric and activity. In 2019, she suggested that supporters of Israel were motivated by money, Tweeting, " It's all about the Benjamins."
Ilhan Omar's recent, and past narratives made by her, against America's actions, displays her contempt for American Democracy. She may have forgotten that in 1992, President George H.W. Bush authorized U.S. Troops to Somalia in Operation Restore Hope to assist with famine relief. Where over 100,000 Somalis perished from starvation, caused by a corrupt government.
Omar should understand that 18 American Servicemen gave their lives and another 73 were wounded, during Operation Restore Hope, if it was not for the sacrifice made by those American Soldiers, she may have never been able to flee to America in 1995.
FILED UNDER JUNE 11, 2021: NATIONAL, POLITICS, WASHINGTON: