Representative Ilhan Omar lashed out at some of her Democrat colleagues for issuing a statement with ‘Islamophobic tropes’ after a dozen condemned her over comments seemingly equating the United States and Israel to the Taliban.
In a tweet earlier this week, the Minnesota congresswoman lumped America and her ally Israel into the same category of terrorist organizations or those who harbor terrorists such as Afghanistan, Hamas, and even the Taliban.
“We must have the same level of accountability and justice for all victims of crimes against humanity,” Omar tweeted. “We have seen unthinkable atrocities committed by the U.S., Hamas, Israel, Afghanistan, and the Taliban.”
A caucus of 25 Jewish Democrats discussed condemning Omar (D) for her comments, but ultimately only a dozen put their name to a statement doing so.
“Equating the United States and Israel to Hamas and the Taliban is as offensive as it is misguided,” the statement reads in part, before accusing Omar of making comments that provide “false equivalence” and “give cover to terrorist groups.”
@RepAuchincloss, @RepTedDeutch, @RepLoisFrankel, @RepJoshG, @RepElaineLuria, @RepKManning, @RepJerryNadler, @RepDeanPhillips, @RepKimSchrier, @BradSherman, @RepDWStweets
We urge Rep Omar to clarify her words placing the US and Israel in the same category as Hamas and the Taliban pic.twitter.com/KfcnmpLRO6
— Rep. Brad Schneider (@RepSchneider) June 10, 2021
RELATED: Rift Growing Between Pro-Israel Democrats And Pro-Palestine Progressive Wing
Ilhan Omar Accuses Democrat Critics Of Being ‘Islamophobic’
The fact that only a dozen Democrats could find it within themselves to condemn Ilhan Omar’s statements which seem to equate America to the Taliban speaks to the current state of their party.
“We urge Congresswoman Omar to clarify her words placing the U.S. and Israel in the same category as Hamas and the Taliban,” the handful of Democrats write.
Omar responded by accusing them of issuing a statement filled with “Islamophobic tropes.”
“The islamophobic tropes in this statement are offensive,” she whined. “The constant harassment [and] silencing from the signers of this letter is unbearable.”
She accused those who signed the letter of calling her when they need her help but refusing to do so to ask for clarification.
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.
The islamophobic tropes in this statement are offensive. The constant harassment & silencing from the signers of this letter is unbearable. https://t.co/37dy2UduW0
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) June 10, 2021
In another tweet, Ilhan Omar blamed Fox News and Representative Lauren Boebert (R-CO) for suggesting her comments on the United States and the Taliban were controversial.
“This is incited directly by articles like this and far-right politicians like this,” she wrote. “And it is enabled by a political culture – in both parties – that allows and often fuels Islamophobia.”
This is incited directly by articles like this and far right politicians like this.
And it is enabled by a political culture—in both parties—that allows and often fuels Islamophobia. pic.twitter.com/93ixmVCmMx
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) June 10, 2021
RELATED: Democrat Rep. Rips Progressives For Remaining Silent On Anti-Semitic Attacks
Squad Member Comes To Omar’s Defense
Another member of the Squad came to Ilhan Omar’s defense for her Taliban comments and blasted the Democrats who condemned them.
Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) said she is “tired of colleagues” from both parties “demonizing” Omar.
“Their obsession with policing her is sick,” she tweeted. “She has the courage to call out human rights abuses no matter who is responsible.”
I am tired of colleagues (both D+R) demonizing @IlhanMN. Their obsession with policing her is sick. She has the courage to call out human rights abuses no matter who is responsible. That’s better than colleagues who look away if it serves their politics. https://t.co/5n9OxZbK8Q
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) June 10, 2021
The Political Insider reported last month on a growing rift amongst Democrats between one faction that supports Israel’s right to defend itself and progressives who condemn them for doing so.
Omar was cited multiple times in reference to that spat, following statements in which she called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “a far-right ethno-nationalist” and another where she seemingly accused Israel of being the actual terrorists.
“Israeli airstrikes killing civilians in Gaza is an act of terrorism,” she said.
Omar also accused the deputy mayor of Jerusalem of supporting “ethnic cleansing.”
Israeli air strikes killing civilians in Gaza is an act of terrorism.
Palestinians deserve protection.
Unlike Israel, missile defense programs, such as Iron Dome, don’t exist to protect Palestinian civilians.
It’s unconscionable to not condemn these attacks on the week of Eid. https://t.co/vWWQfMqBkT
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) May 10, 2021
President Biden however, declared that Israel has the right to defend itself in the face of Hamas rocket attacks.
“Israel has a right to defend itself when you have thousands of rockets flying into your territory,” he said.
One of the signers of the letter condemning Ilhan Omar’s remarks, Democrat Representative Dean Phillips (MN), said in May that the silence has been deafening from his own party when it comes to calling out anti-Semitism.
“I’ll say the quiet part out loud; it’s time for ‘progressives’ to start condemning anti-semitism and violent attacks on Jewish people with the same intention and vigor demonstrated in other areas of activism,” Phillips tweeted.
I’ll say the quiet part out loud; it’s time for “progressives” to start condemning anti-semitism and violent attacks on Jewish people with the same intention and vigor demonstrated in other areas of activism. The silence has been deafening.
— Rep. Dean Phillips ?? (@RepDeanPhillips) May 24, 2021
New York Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin used the letter from the dozen Democrats and demanded Omar be removed from the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
“She should have never been appointed to this Committee in the first place,” he said.
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