Freshman Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota is facing swift backlash over her comments suggesting that bi-partisan support for Israel is motivated by money.
Omar has been a vocal critic of the Israeli government and its treatment of Palestinians. She also supported the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, or BDS movement, which promotes boycotts against the state of Israel.
The backfire to her comments came from both sides of the isle, that included Chelsea Clinton and fellow Democratic legislators like Congresswomen Nancy Pelosi and Donna Shalala.
Co-signed as an American. We should expect all elected officials, regardless of party, and all public figures to not traffic in anti-Semitism.
— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) February 11, 2019
Shalala tweeted, “To suggest members of Congress are ‘bought off’ to support Israel is offensive and wrong.”
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There is no place in our country for anti-Semitic comments. I condemn them whatever the source. To suggest members of Congress are “bought off” to support Israel is offensive and wrong. https://t.co/vYBVkBOOxS
— Rep. Donna E. Shalala (@RepShalala) February 11, 2019
Omar has since apologized for her remarks, stating that “anti-Semitism is real and I am grateful for Jewish allies and colleagues who are educating me on this painful history of anti-Semitic tropes.”
She continued, “This is why I unequivocally apologize.”