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Ilhan Omar: US congresswoman defends 'offensive' Israel remark | Ilhan Omar: US congresswoman defends 'offensive' Israel remark |
(32 minutes later) | |
A US congresswoman has hit back after a rare rebuke from Democratic colleagues over her remarks seeming to liken the US and Israel to Hamas and the Taliban. | A US congresswoman has hit back after a rare rebuke from Democratic colleagues over her remarks seeming to liken the US and Israel to Hamas and the Taliban. |
A dozen Jewish lawmakers called on Ilhan Omar to "clarify her words", but the Minnesota representative slammed the group's "tropes". | A dozen Jewish lawmakers called on Ilhan Omar to "clarify her words", but the Minnesota representative slammed the group's "tropes". |
This is not the first time that Ms Omar's criticism of Israel put her at odds with members of her own party. | This is not the first time that Ms Omar's criticism of Israel put her at odds with members of her own party. |
In 2019, she apologised for implying money was behind support for Israel. | In 2019, she apologised for implying money was behind support for Israel. |
On Monday, Ms Omar tweeted that "we have seen unthinkable atrocities committed by the US, Hamas, Israel, Afghanistan, and the Taliban". | |
"We must have the same level of accountability and justice for all victims of crimes against humanity," she wrote, including a video of her questioning Secretary of State Anthony Blinken during a committee hearing in the House of Representatives. | "We must have the same level of accountability and justice for all victims of crimes against humanity," she wrote, including a video of her questioning Secretary of State Anthony Blinken during a committee hearing in the House of Representatives. |
The row comes only weeks after hostilities in the Middle East ended in ceasefire and amid rising reports of anti-Semitic attacks against American Jews. | The row comes only weeks after hostilities in the Middle East ended in ceasefire and amid rising reports of anti-Semitic attacks against American Jews. |
Who's behind recent rise in US anti-Semitic attacks? | Who's behind recent rise in US anti-Semitic attacks? |
But Ms Omar's mention of militant Islamist groups Hamas and the Taliban in the same breath as the US and Israel rankled some of her fellow Democrats. | |
"Equating the United States and Israel to Hamas and the Taliban is as offensive as it is misguided," wrote the group, led by New York Democrat Jerry Nadler, in a statement on Wednesday. | "Equating the United States and Israel to Hamas and the Taliban is as offensive as it is misguided," wrote the group, led by New York Democrat Jerry Nadler, in a statement on Wednesday. |
"Ignoring the differences 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. | "Ignoring the differences 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. |
"False equivalencies give cover to terrorist groups," they added. | "False equivalencies give cover to terrorist groups," they added. |
Early on Thursday, Ms Omar - a Somali-born former refugee who is one of the first Muslims elected to Congress - hit back at the group calling them "shameful" and accusing them of engaging in "islamophobic tropes". | Early on Thursday, Ms Omar - a Somali-born former refugee who is one of the first Muslims elected to Congress - hit back at the group calling them "shameful" and accusing them of engaging in "islamophobic tropes". |
"It's shameful for colleagues who call me when they need my support to now put out a statement asking for 'clarification' and not just call," she tweeted. | "It's shameful for colleagues who call me when they need my support to now put out a statement asking for 'clarification' and not just call," she tweeted. |
"The islamophobic tropes in this statement are offensive. The constant harassment & silencing from the signers of this letter is unbearable." | "The islamophobic tropes in this statement are offensive. The constant harassment & silencing from the signers of this letter is unbearable." |
US lawmaker sorry for 'anti-Semitic' tweet | |
The Democrats' 'tectonic' shift on IsraelĀ | |
The "Squad" of progressive Democratic lawmakers | |
Her fellow member of the so-called "Squad" of left-wing Democratic female lawmakers, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, rushed to her defence. | Her fellow member of the so-called "Squad" of left-wing Democratic female lawmakers, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, rushed to her defence. |
"Pretty sick & tired of the constant vilification, intentional mischaracterization, and public targeting of @IlhanMN coming from our caucus," the New York Democrat tweeted. | "Pretty sick & tired of the constant vilification, intentional mischaracterization, and public targeting of @IlhanMN coming from our caucus," the New York Democrat tweeted. |
"They have no concept for the danger they put her in by skipping private conversations & leaping to fueling targeted news cycles around her." | "They have no concept for the danger they put her in by skipping private conversations & leaping to fueling targeted news cycles around her." |
Taliban militants, photographed in April 2021 | Taliban militants, photographed in April 2021 |
Later on Thursday, Ms Omar issued a statement saying that she was intending to question Mr Blinken about specific incidents presented to the International Criminal Court (ICC). | Later on Thursday, Ms Omar issued a statement saying that she was intending to question Mr Blinken about specific incidents presented to the International Criminal Court (ICC). |
"To be clear: the conversation was about accountability for specific incidents regarding those ICC cases, not a moral comparison between Hamas and the Taliban and the US and Israel," she said. | "To be clear: the conversation was about accountability for specific incidents regarding those ICC cases, not a moral comparison between Hamas and the Taliban and the US and Israel," she said. |
"I was in no way equating terrorist organisations with democratic countries with well-established judicial systems." | "I was in no way equating terrorist organisations with democratic countries with well-established judicial systems." |
She also tweeted a profanity-laced voicemail message she said she had received, writing, "every time I speak out on human rights I am inundated with death threats". | |
House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued a rare joint statement with leaders of the chamber's committees seeking to quell the party unrest. | |
"We welcome the clarification by Congresswoman Omar that there is no moral equivalency between the US and Israel and Hamas and the Taliban," wrote the group of senior Democrats. | "We welcome the clarification by Congresswoman Omar that there is no moral equivalency between the US and Israel and Hamas and the Taliban," wrote the group of senior Democrats. |
Ms Omar's original comment drew comparisons to a remark by former President Donald Trump in 2017 when he was asked on Fox News about his "respect" for Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom the host called "a killer". | Ms Omar's original comment drew comparisons to a remark by former President Donald Trump in 2017 when he was asked on Fox News about his "respect" for Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom the host called "a killer". |
"There are a lot of killers. We have a lot of killers," Mr Trump responded. "Well, you think our country is so innocent?" | "There are a lot of killers. We have a lot of killers," Mr Trump responded. "Well, you think our country is so innocent?" |