In a series of tweets, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.) took aim at America's largest pro-Israel conference, which ended Monday.
A number of those tweets are factually unfounded. The comments mark an extension of Omar's frequent denunciation of the only Jewish state and its American supporters.
Omar first began her public spat with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) after sharing tweets alleging pro-Israel politicians are paid off by AIPAC. That ended with a bipartisan resolution condemning Omar's comments and Omar apologizing. Omar later denied apologizing.
On Tuesday, Omar shared that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had mentioned her in his speech to AIPAC.
Omar expressed shock that the Israeli prime minister would single her out. (Omar supports the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement, which has been condemned by the Anti-Defamation League as a global effort to delegitimize Israel. She is also the only member of the current Congress roundly condemned for her comments about American Jews and their loyalties or influence.)
In one tweet, Omar claimed that she has "not criticized AIPAC because of its membership or the country it advocates for. I've criticized it because it has repeatedly opposed efforts to guarantee peace and human rights in the region."
I —like so many others—have not criticized AIPAC because of its membership or the country it advocates for. I’ve criticized it because it has repeatedly opposed efforts to guarantee peace and human rights in the region.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) March 26, 2019
This is untrue. Omar has never publicly commented on AIPAC's "efforts to guarantee peace and human rights" or lack thereof.
Rather, Omar has claimed AIPAC buys politicians' support for Israel.
In a discussion of foreign policy, Omar said "It's all about the Benjamins baby," in reference to $100 bills.
When asked who was "paying American politicians to be pro-Israel," Omar replied, "AIPAC!" That tweet has since been deleted.
Omar previously denied that targeting Israel or supporters of the Jewish state was anti-Semitic. "Drawing attention to the apartheid Israeli regime is far from hating Jews," she said. Omar has also claimed that her critics attack her because of her religion, not her frequent offensive comments.
Omar has not been as charitable with her own critics. She shared that she expects she "will continue to be caught in the crosshairs of Islamophobia." Omar has not said whether she thinks Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) and other Democrats pointing out her anti-Semitism were motivated by Islamophobia. Following Omar's offensive comments about Jews and dual loyalty, Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D., Mich.), the other female Muslim member of Congress, claimed critics were motivated by bigotry. She came to Omar's defense, claiming her comments received condemnation "because she's Muslim and because she's black."
In a follow-up tweet, Omar claimed to give examples of AIPAC and Israel opposing "peace."
⁃AIPAC and Netanyahu vigorously opposed President Obama’s efforts to secure the Iran nuclear deal
⁃AIPAC and Netanyahu openly opposed the Oslo Accords— and the 1993 peace process.— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) March 26, 2019
First, Omar claimed AIPAC and Netanyahu "vigorously opposed" the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement. This is true. AIPAC and Israel's government strongly opposed the deal. So did a sprawling list of American Jewish organizations.
It is Iran, not Israel, AIPAC, or the United States, that threatened peace with its nuclear program.
Iran agreed to temporarily cease developing weapons of mass destruction only in exchange for sanctions relief and pallets of cash. Iran flagrantly violates human rights. Iran tests ballistic missiles, in violation of United Nations resolutions. Omar has one tweet agreeing in principle that Iranians can protest their government.
In her thread, Omar also said we cannot turn "a blind eye" to any "form of hate." Omar has visited Turkey and has met with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who jails journalists and severely limits public protest. Omar has one positive tweet about the Turkish government and one highlighting her meeting with Erdogan. No tweet addresses human rights violations in Turkey.
Omar also claimed that "AIPAC and Netanyahu openly opposed the Oslo Accords— and the 1993 peace process." AIPAC supported the 1993 Oslo Accords, and continues to say the same on its own website.
A 2014 New Yorker article confirms that "AIPAC officially endorsed the agreement, and still does," even though "many members were uncomfortable with it." The Jerusalem Post writes that "[a]fter Yitzhak Rabin's Labor-led government signed the Oslo Accords with Yasser Arafat's PLO in 1993, AIPAC felt duty-bound to endorse the deal."
In another tweet, Omar said she "cannot accept a status quo of perpetual armed conflict and occupation. We must forever strive towards peace."
Like Omar, AIPAC rejects the status quo and supports a two-state solution.
Unlike AIPAC, however, Omar has been silent about the rockets fired from the Palestinian-run Gaza Strip into Israel this week. The rockets destroyed a home near Tel Aviv, injured several citizens, and terrorized thousands more. Hamas, a terror organization, runs the Gaza Strip. Omar has never tweeted about Hamas. Her recent tweets about Israel ignore this week's terror attacks.