Another day, another anti-Semitic controversy for freshman Rep. Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.).
This time, she found herself being called out by one of her own Democratic colleagues, Jewish organizations and even Chelsea Clinton for tweets claiming Republican support for Israel is bought and paid for by AIPAC.
Omar linked to a tweet by left-wing journalist Glenn Greenwald, who was criticizing House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R., Calif.) for threatening punishment against Omar and fellow anti-Israel Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D., Mich.). She wrote, "It's all about the Benjamins baby" with musical notes, a reference to $100 bills with Benjamin Franklin's face on them.
https://twitter.com/IlhanMN/status/1094747501578633216
Forward opinion editor Batya Ungar-Sargon criticized Omar for tweeting an "anti-Semitic trope" and said she'd love to know who is "paying American politicians to be pro-Israel." Omar responded, "AIPAC!", the name of the pro-Israel lobbying organization.
https://twitter.com/IlhanMN/status/1094761790595088384
Omar's tweets were met with sharp criticism even from members of her own party, including Rep. Max Rose (D., N.Y.). Rose, who is Jewish, tweeted out a statement calling her words "hateful and offensive."
Congresswoman Omar’s statements are deeply hurtful to Jews, including myself. pic.twitter.com/u3f2JHESFA
— Max Rose (@MaxRose4NY) February 11, 2019
Clinton tweeted in agreement with Ungar-Sargon that the congresswoman had again crossed a line.
"We should expect all elected officials, regardless of party, and all public figures to not traffic in anti-Semitism," Clinton wrote.
Please learn how to talk about Jews in a non-anti-Semitic way. Sincerely, American Jews. https://t.co/qo3BU2Pqgn
— Batya Ungar-Sargon (@bungarsargon) February 11, 2019
Co-signed as an American. We should expect all elected officials, regardless of party, and all public figures to not traffic in anti-Semitism.
— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) February 11, 2019
Omar wound up tweeting at Clinton that she would be happy to talk about building an "inclusive movement for justice" and added "we must call out smears from the GOP and their allies."
Hello Congresswoman! Completely agree. I will reach out to your office tomorrow. Looking forward to connecting about this thread and more, Chelsea
— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) February 11, 2019
More of her Democratic colleagues sounded off on Monday morning, including Democratic Reps. Sean Patrick Maloney (N.Y.), Tom Suozzi (N.Y.), Josh Gottheimer (N.J.) and Donna Shalala (Fla.). Former Obama administration Ambassador to Israel Daniel Shapiro called on Omar to be condemned by all Democrats in a series of tweets on Monday.
My support for Israel is based on shared values and US nat’l security, not money. I’m disappointed that @IlhanMN is again tweeting dangerous and hurtful tropes.
— Sean Patrick Maloney (@RepSeanMaloney) February 11, 2019
Antisemitism doesn't have any place anywhere. But let's keep in mind this is coming from the same guy who cheers on the president for his racist statements, including about Native Americans. Especially this Trail of Tears nonsense. Your words ring hollow. https://t.co/tzkrgVPYG0
— Sean Patrick Maloney (@RepSeanMaloney) February 11, 2019
Rep. Omar’s tweet yesterday went too far. To suggest that pro-Israel support 'Is all about the Benjamins," and her follow up that she is referring to AIPAC, is not only inaccurate but conjures up the worst anti-Semitic stereotypes.
— Tom Suozzi (@RepTomSuozzi) February 11, 2019
AIPAC is a not-for-profit that promotes US - Israel relations and specifically does not make donations to political campaigns.
My support for Israel is based upon our shared values, our national security interests, and the history of the region.
— Tom Suozzi (@RepTomSuozzi) February 11, 2019
https://twitter.com/RepShalala/status/1094935825152905216
For nearly two weeks, Rep. @IlhanMN has avoided meeting with me to discuss why anti-Semitic tropes like these are hurtful to so many Americans. There is absolutely no place for this rhetoric in Congress -- or anywhere. https://t.co/0arhEAVyXO
— Rep Josh Gottheimer (@RepJoshG) February 11, 2019
AIPAC responded to the controversy as well, tweeting, "We are proud that we are engaged in the democratic process to strengthen the US-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."
We are proud that we are engaged in the democratic process to strengthen the US-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.
— AIPAC (@AIPAC) February 11, 2019
The American Jewish Committee called on her to apologize and wrote, "Suggesting that a Jewish organization is buying off American politicians is both demonstrably false and stunningly anti-Semitic."
.@IlhanMN, Suggesting that a Jewish organization is buying off American politicians is both demonstrably false and stunningly anti-Semitic. American politicians are pro-Israel because Americans are (https://t.co/QMr1oCcnHX). Apologize. pic.twitter.com/VdJh0W8sx1
— American Jewish Committee (@AJCGlobal) February 11, 2019
Omar, after first wondering why Jewish Americans would be offended, recently said she used unfortunate language in a 2012 tweet where she wrote Israel had committed "evil" acts and "hypnotized the world." She recently compared Israel to Iran, the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism, and said she was amused at the idea of the Jewish state being considered a democracy.
In addition, she and Tlaib support the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement against Israel, known as BDS. The BDS movement has links to Palestinian terrorist organizations. The Anti-Defamation League has condemned it, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) said BDS is anti-Semitism in action.
When asked by a CNN reporter last week why she supported BDS, Omar immediately walked away.
On Sunday night, she retweeted progressives who were supportive of her remarks, such as HuffPost's Ashley Feinberg.
accurately describing how the Israel lobby works is not anti-semitism https://t.co/30M6rVmeJb
— Ashley Feinberg (@ashleyfeinberg) February 11, 2019
She also briefly retweeted a Jewish progressive criticizing her remarks who wrote, "she might as well call us hook-nosed." She undid it shortly after.
.@IlhanMN just retweeted this tweet.
The antisemitism is now out in the open, proud and unabashed. pic.twitter.com/4KKVANZbW8
— Reagan Battalion (@ReaganBattalion) February 11, 2019
UPDATE: Monday, 9:50 A.M.: This article was updated with additional Democrats criticizing Omar for her tweets.