Jewish advocacy group calls on Omar to apologize after 'stunningly anti-Semitic' tweet

[George II]

A major Jewish advocacy organization on Sunday called on Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) to apologize for suggesting that a pro-Israel lobbying group was buying off lawmakers, calling her tweet "stunningly anti-Semitic."

"@IlhanMN, Suggesting that a Jewish organization is buying off American politicians is both demonstrably false and stunningly anti-Semitic," the American Jewish Committee tweeted, while linking to a poll from last year showing strong support for Israel among American voters.

"American politicians are pro-Israel because Americans are. Apologize."

Link to tweet

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/429356-jewish-advocacy-group-calls-on-omar-to-apologize-after-stunningly-anti-semitic

[tritsofme]

1. I'll be supporting whoever is running in the primary against her. This sort of vile anti-Semitic

rhetoric has no place in the Democratic Party. Let’s leave that to Steve King.

Omar’s casual deployment of classic anti-Semitic tropes and canards is deeply disturbing, only made more so by the people defending such deplorable bile.

Thanks to Reps Nadler and Rose for speaking out, we need to hear from Leadership as well.

[George II]

2. She should take a ride up to NYC, Brooklyn specifically, and get a first hand look....

....at what people think is anti-Semitic.

The House of Representatives changed their rules so that she could observe her religion while serving in the House. She, of all people, should be more sensitive to others' religions AND the centuries of this type of talk about Jewish people.

[wellst0nev0ter]

3. So they engage in ad populum argument to dunk her?

Of course a majority of Americans are going to support Israel if Israeli viewpoints dominate the media and the spin cycle. The ones pushing the pro-Israel line is AIPAC and the constellation of Israel-linked lobbying groups.

Of course, AIPAC doesn't donate to campaigns directly, and its members contribute significant amounts of money to campaigns. The group is the biggest lobbying group for its cause based on the amount of money spent.

Why is all this so controversial, I simply cannot understand. All I see are Israeli hardliners, left and right, refereeing the debate by recklessly invoking antisemitism.

[DinahMoeHum]

4. Dave Zirin from The Nation magazine begs to differ. . .

Link to tweet

Thread:

As a Jew, I want to welcome anyone who wants to criticize a lobbying coalition funded by arms manufacturers, evangelical Christians, and allies of the right wing edge of Israeli politics. Criticizing AIPAC is not anti-Semitic and it’s absurd that this even needs to be said.

And at a time when attacks on Jews in the US is on the rise, how about we focus on those actually engaging in the violence and vandalism. How about we have more outrage when Trump’s allies speak sympathetically of Hitler. . . or when Trump speaks of “globalists.”

If your “allies” are Donald Trump, Jair Bolsonaro, Steve Bannon, and an evangelical right that thinks we are all going to hell, you are no ally of American Jews.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

[EllieBC]

6. If you think the only antisemites

are on the right, you haven't been paying attention. And probably intentionally.

[DinahMoeHum]

15. Excuse me?

Last edited Mon Feb 11, 2019, 06:19 PM - Edit history (1)

[George II]

11. I'll take the opinion of the American Jewish Committee over that of a sports writer.

[Adrahil]

5. Opposing AIPAC is not Antisemetic, IMO.

We must distinguish between the state of Israel, and the Jewish people.

[EllieBC]

7. As soon as the trash antisemites do.

Sarsour, Farakkhan, Mallory, and trash like this: https://www.vox.com/world/2017/1/13/14268994/synagogue-wuppertal-anti-semitism-anti-zionism-anti-israel

And let's be honest. The only "acceptable" Jews to many people are Jews that are 100% not religious and not only anti-Netanyahu but preferably anti-Zionist as well.

[Adrahil]

9. Indeed, we have plenty of Antisemites.

I do not have any an issue with religious Jews, any more than any other religion (in others, please keep your religion out of our government). I do not oppose the nation of Israel in principal, so long as it does not become an apartheid nation. I do oppose the occupied territories, and Obviously Nut-and-yahoo is a piece of shit. But Jewish Israelis certainly have a right to live in peace. I visited Israel for the first time a bit over a year ago, and I loved it. It was beautiful, and the people were very welcoming to me.

What I object to is the subversion of American interests in favor of Israel's. I feel that way about any nation, regardless of the religion f the populace.

[theophilus]

13. Very well said. n/t

[dlk]

8. It Appears to be time for Some Sensitivity Training

Misunderstanding abounds!

[George II]

10. Some of the newer members of Congress need to be more wary of where they are now...

....and what they say. Being a member of Congress is a lot more visual and important than being in a local Democratic club or committee.

The underlying sentiment could have been worded to not appear to be anti-Semitic and more diplomatically.

[theophilus]

12. Does Israel do anything bad? What about Benjamin Nuttyyayhoo? Are we all up

in supporting him? Can we not see the bad with the good? Is the bad growing and the good petering out? Why do we have to take the bad with the good without saying anything? Come on folks! Israel can be great if they choose to be. Just like America. All of this namecalling and mansplainin' needs to stop. Folks have opinions. Nothing should be a Golden Calf, I mean a Sacred Cow, or uh, well you know what I mean. Off limits. That's it!

[leftynyc]

14. What does bibi have to do with

a congresswoman charging that politicians ONLY support Israel because they're being paid to. That's what "it's all about the benjamins means" and why are you trying to change the subject from THAT? There is only one sacred cow on DU and it most certainly is not Israel.