The original content of Democracy Now! Headlines appears under the Creative
Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 License (United States). For more, including their other
shows and media, visit www.democracynow.org.
March 5, 2019

Dem Leaders Rebuke Alleged Anti-Semitic Remarks by Rep. Omar
------------------------------------------------------------

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other top Democrats will bring a
resolution condemning anti-Semitism to a House vote Wednesday, in a
direct rebuke of recent comments by Minnesota Congressmember Ilhan Omar
questioning the U.S.'s relationship with Israel. The draft resolution
does not explicitly name the freshman congressmember but comes after
recent comments by Omar at an event last week, in which she called out
the "political influence in this country that says it is OK for people
to push for allegiance to a foreign country"-referring to Israel.

After several lawmakers publicly attacked Omar over the weekend, the
congressmember defended her comments on Twitter Sunday, writing, "I am
told everyday that I am anti-American if I am not pro-Israel. I find
that to be problematic and I am not alone. I just happen to be willing
to speak up on it and open myself to attacks." While critical of Israeli
state policy toward Palestinians, Omar has repeatedly condemned
anti-Semitism.

Fellow Congressmember Rashida Tlaib-who, along with Omar, was the first
female Muslim elected to Congress-has expressed support for Omar, as did
New York Congressmember Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Meanwhile, the hashtag
#IStand With Ilhan has been gaining steam on social media as progressive
Jewish groups and defenders of Palestinian rights voice their support
for the congressmember.


.