Ongoing Divide Continues to Distract Democrats
Jewish Democrats in the House of Representatives continue to spar both publicly and behind the scenes with Rep. Omar in an anti-semitism feud that is likely to be exploited soon by Republicans.
Punchbowl News reports that following a regularly scheduled conference call among House Democrats on Wednesday, the House Democratic Caucus “has erupted into an open brawl.” The issue: Jewish Democrats were angered by a recent statement made by Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) on Twitter on Monday via a video statement, in which she demanded accountability for “all victims of crimes against humanity,” and paralleled the actions of the United States and Israel with those of Hamas and the Taliban.
Omar also included a clip of Blinken’s testimony along with the statement: “We have seen unthinkable atrocities committed by the US, Hamas, Israel, Afghanistan, and the Taliban.” (See video embedded in tweet below)
The Israeli army intensified the battle with Hamas by launching airstrikes that targeted Hamas offices in Gaza City on May 11, and militants in Gaza retaliated by firing rockets at the metropolis of Tel Aviv, the southern city of Ashkelon, and Israel’s main airport. Ultimately, thousands of Hamas rockets were fired at Israel’s prominent cities, and Israel’s military responded in-kind with a barrage of rockets as well.
At least 35 Palestinians, including 10 children, had been killed by May 11th in Gaza, and five people were killed in Israel from airstrikes on major cities, including Tel Aviv — hundreds more were wounded on both sides.
By comparing the United States and Isreal to Hamas and the Taliban in her statement, Rep. Omar has caused many within the Democratic Party to demand that she clarify her statement. Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL) issued a joint statement on Wednesday saying, “Equating the United States and Israel to Hamas and the Taliban is as offensive as it is misguided.”
Speaking for a group of 12 House Democrats, Schneider said:
“Ignoring the differences between democracies governed by the rule of law and contemptible organizations that engage in terrorism at best discredits one’s intended argument and at worst reflects deep-seated prejudice. The United States and Israel are imperfect and, like all democracies, at times deserving of critique, but false equivalencies give cover to terrorist groups. We urge Congresswoman Omar to clarify her words placing the US and Israel in the same category as Hamas and the Taliban.”
According to inside sources, there were two statements drafted by this group of Jewish Democrats that were considered for public consumption — a “harsh” and a “less harsh” version. The above statement represents the “less harsh” option considered by those opposing Omar’s recent remarks.
Rep. Omar continued to fuel the animosity on Thursday by making a point to switch to her personal campaign account with the following statement: “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.”
Omar continued to double down on her position: “The Islamophobic tropes in this statement are offensive. The constant harassment and [sic] silencing from the signers of this letter is unbearable.” In 2019, former Democratic Rep. Max Rose had stated via Twitter: “When someone uses hateful and offensive tropes and words against people of any faith, I will not be silent.”
This latest standoff follows a previous 2019 altercation between Omar and House Democrats, which resulted in the House passing two separate resolutions on AIPAC and American Jewish support of Israel in response to Omar’s criticism. Omar eventually apologized for her statement that support for Israel was “all about the Benjamins baby.”
Considering that Omar appears to have mimicked Rose’s phrasing in her statement refusing to back down, her defense could also be seen as an ongoing attempt to mock the criticism against her from Jewish Democrats. Punchbowl News also reports that some of Omar’s “fellow Democrats believe Omar is an anti-Semite, even if they don’t say so publicly.”
Rep. Omar confirmed on Wednesday that she had received death threats over these comments comparing the actions of the US and Israel militants to Hamas and the Taliban. Omar also made a point to blame biased news coverage and Conservative lawmakers for encouraging the calls for violence. Continuing the dispute within the Democratic Party would likely increase these types of threats to the Congresswoman.
This week's conference call among Jewish House Democrats was also easily derailed by Omar’s recent remarks on social media, which could mirror a similar lack of public focus if Democrats place more media prominence on this latest spat with Omar.
What remains clear is that this ongoing struggle over the need for all Democrats to provide clear and concise statements concerning the conflict between Isreal and Hamas is creating an ongoing rift that Republicans will be able to exploit easily. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy is expected to help lead a new GOP talking point within mainstream media today that compares the recent remarks of Omar to those of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) to normalize Greene’s past controversial comments.
Republicans could offer a resolution soon to remove Rep. Omar from her seat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Democratic colleagues of Omar may not be quick to lend their support to keep her on the committee, which means that this intra-party fight could mean more than just a loss in focus — it could cost her a committee seat.
Amee Vanderpool writes the SHERO Newsletter and is an attorney, published author, contributor to newspapers and magazines, and analyst for BBC radio. She can be reached at avanderpool@gmail.com or follow her on Twitter @girlsreallyrule.
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I can’t figure Ilhan out. She seems to enjoy inflaming drama as much as Greene and it’s highly disappointing.