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Steven Emerson,
Executive Director
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February 5, 2019
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Rep.
Ilhan Omar Dodges Anti-Semitism Question at CAP
by John Rossomando • Feb 5, 2019
at 3:24 pm
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Minnesota U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar dodged a question about her comments
concerning Israel Tuesday morning during a discussion about religious
freedom at the Center for American Progress (CAP).
Just last week, Omar said hearing described as a democracy made her "almost
chuckle," then comparing it the Iran's theocratic dictatorship.
She also compared Israel to the Jim Crow-era South, saying: "The American Jewish establishment claims
Israel is a democracy for all its citizens. But the nation state law
classifies 1.6 million Palestinian Israelis as second class."
Arabs comprise more than one-fifth of Israel's population of nearly 9
million people. They hold 18 seats in Israel's parliament, the Knesset. An
Israeli-Arab has sat on the country's supreme court and a growing number
serve
in the nation's army.
CAP Executive Vice President Winnie Stachelberg tried to set the table
for Omar, noting the new congresswoman had acknowledged that her some of her comments "had inadvertently echoed
stereotypes against Jews." Omar rambled a bit in response, ultimately saying,
"I, I think, am at a breaking point where we're starting to have a
conversation about what it means to be of people that harbor hate and the
kind of journey we can all be on in fighting against discrimination
collectively while still having the freedom to debate foreign policy and
not only think about how we engage our allies but also how we criticize and
hold them accountable."
Omar did not take questions from reporters.
After criticizing
the Boycott, Divestment Sanctions (BDS) movement as "not helpful in
getting that two-state solution" during her campaign, Omar endorsed it after her election. BDS is seen as
anti-Semitic because it singles out the world's only Jewish state and seeks
to isolate Israel politically, economically and culturally.
She also attempted to deflect criticism by talking about attending at a
service at a Minnesota synagogue after October's murder of 11 people inside
a Pittsburgh synagogue.
"We cannot stand up to one kind of hate while inflaming hate
against a religion or nationality," Omar said.
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