Provocative comments from Rep. Ilhan Omar have thrust the Democrats into an uncomfortable debate over Israel policy, while Republicans have been happy to stoke the furor
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says he finds rising anti-Israel sentiments 'disturbing,' including by 'some of the new members of the House of Representatives,' a reference to freshman Rep. Ilhan Omar's comment last week that suggested Israel's supporters are pushing lawmakers to pledge 'allegiance' to the Jewish state.Back in January, the Democrats welcomed their brash young newcomers to Congress with smiles and hugs.
This time Omar is not apologizing. And this time pro-Israel Democrats led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi are not just warning her about the dangers of Jewish tropes. They’re expected to offer a resolution condemning anti-Semitism on the House floor. In a poll by the Pew Research Center in January of last year, 46 per cent of Americans said they sympathized more with Israel and 16 per cent with the Palestinians in their Middle East discord.
But Democrats in Congress remain largely supportive of Israel. Pelosi, for example, often attends the American Israel Public Affairs Committee conference in Washington, which is coming up later this month. “No one seeks this level of reprimand when members make statements about Latinx + other communities,” the New York Democrat wrote.Story continues below advertisement
“We call on Democrats to stand with Ilhan against Republican efforts to pit Jews and Muslims against each other.”“I firmly believe that her anti-Semitic expressions do not reflect the views of her district’s residents,” said state Sen. Ron Latz, who is Jewish, lives in her district and has been critical of Omar’s recent statements on Israel.
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