Quote :

"Why is that term considered anti-Semtici by some?"

I'll let her explain it in her own words:

Quote :

"“Our relationship really, with the Israeli government and the Israeli state. And so when I see Israel institute, um, law that recognizes it as a Jewish state and does not recognize, um, the other religions that are living in it and we still uphold it as a democracy in the Middle East, I almost chuckle because I know that if, you know, we see that in any other society we would criticize it, or any other place that sort of upholds its religion. And I see that now happening with Saudi Arabia. And so I am aggravated truly in those contradictions.”"

2/11/2019 1:20:10 PM

That doesn't explain why some consider the term "hypnotized" as anti-semitic.

You still haven't shown me an example of an anti-semitic tweet from her. Just tweets that criticize the country of Israel (and I don't think I need to be jewish to question if a statement is anti-semitic vs anti-israel)

[Edited on February 11, 2019 at 1:28 PM. Reason : ]

2/11/2019 1:27:52 PM

Sorry, thought you were asking why anti-Israel can be considered anti-sematic. Here is a NYT article explaining the "Jewish hypnosis" trope.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/21/opinion/ilhan-omar-israel-jews.html

Quote :

"You still haven't shown me an example of an anti-semitic tweet from her."

If you don't see the racism in her comments above, I can't help you.

2/11/2019 1:37:12 PM

https://twitter.com/mattduss/status/1094955730157953024?s=21

Here is a nuanced take by Bernie Sanders’ foreign policy advisor. He’s right.

I have no time, for the record, for assholes like Steve Scalise and Kevin McCarthy (!!!!! he literally posted about Soros money the day after a bomb was sent to his house) to give any critical input about this.

2/11/2019 2:02:04 PM

this is AIPAC coming at her

https://twitter.com/LaraFriedmanDC/status/1094998607059697664

Quote :

"A thread on the @IlhanMN controvery: Over 15+ yrs working the Hill on Israel-related issues from a non-AIPAC point of view, members/staff (both parties) told me over & over that they agreed with me but didn’t dare say so publicly for fear of repercussions from AIPAC et al. 1/"

2/11/2019 2:05:41 PM

HCH is the epitome of a bad faith republican

2/11/2019 2:13:03 PM

Quote :

"Sorry, thought you were asking why anti-Israel can be considered anti-sematic."

I am asking that (for these specific quotes), and your not offering an answer. Just posting a quote that also doesn't answer the question.

Quote :

"If you don't see the racism in her comments above, I can't help you."

Criticizing the country of Israel's government is not racist. That's why you can't explain it.


[Edited on February 11, 2019 at 2:21 PM. Reason : ]

2/11/2019 2:19:39 PM

^^^ That's a good take.

^^K.

[Edited on February 11, 2019 at 2:24 PM. Reason : 1]

2/11/2019 2:23:34 PM

Quote :

"Criticizing the country of Israel's government is not racist."

Criticizing the country of Israel's government because the recognized religion is Jewish is racist. Her quote above is so transparently racist, I can't explain it any more clearly than how she states it.

2/11/2019 2:28:05 PM

Israel/Palestine discussions are plagued by the same politics of hate that infest the rest of US politics. If you're not keen with abortion, it's because you hate women. If you're fine with making a baker bake a cake, it's because you hate Christians. Here it's the same thing. If you criticize Israel, it's because you're anti-Israel and, by extension, hate Jews. If you support something Israel does, it's because you're anti-Palestine and, by extension, hate Muslims.

There's an extra element of partisan douchebaggery here, because she's a Muslim AND a Democrat, which terrifies super-red Republicans.

As for her actual statements, if she made any references to money and Israel, that's going to be touchy, given the historic stereotype of Jews being stingy and greedy. The "hypnotize" statement is also touchy as it's common in "Jew World Order" conspiracy theories.

To make matters worse, there's a tendency among middle eastern folks to use "Jew" to mean "Israeli," at least among the people I've interacted with. It makes sense, as non-Jews are heavily disenfranchised in Israel (shocker) and Jews aren't typically found in significant numbers in the region outside of Israel; but it's shocking to Western ears, because we don't see that relationship as naturally. So you hear someone talking bad about Jews, but they're really fussing about Israel. It doesn't help perceptions, and I imagine it clouds their own minds unconsciously, too.

[Edited on February 11, 2019 at 2:33 PM. Reason : ]

2/11/2019 2:28:52 PM

Before everyone here starts going all in on AIPAC, here is a little bit of context. AIPAC spends per year to lobby for pro-Israel interests a measly $3.5M in a good year. It barely even cracks the top 50, is dwarfed by the *beer wholesalers.*

In contrast, Planned Parenthood’s PAC spent $20M in 2016.

^Another good analysis. Though I would argue that there aren't many Jews outside of Israel in that region because most of those countries want them destroyed.

[Edited on February 11, 2019 at 3:00 PM. Reason : 1]

2/11/2019 2:53:19 PM

^good post, burro!

Quote :

"Criticizing the country of Israel's government because the recognized religion is Jewish is racist. "

I really don't see how. She criticized them for making a law that recognizes it as a jewish state and doesn't recognize other religions in the state. How is that racist? I don't think it is. Just as I wouldn't think it would be racist to criticize America for making laws that recognize it as a Christian nation. Or Mexico making laws establishing it as a Catholic nation..... or criticizing any democratic country for making laws that recognize it as a specific religion. How is that racist? You're explanation so far is "because it is!"


[Edited on February 11, 2019 at 2:54 PM. Reason : ]

2/11/2019 2:53:40 PM

Quote :

"In contrast, Planned Parenthood’s PAC spent $20M in 2016."

$985,619 on lobbying in 2016
https://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/clientsum.php?id=D000000591&year=2016

the pro-israel industry had $15M+ in contributions in 2016, pro-choice had less than $5M in 2016
https://www.opensecrets.org/industries/totals.php?cycle=2018&ind=Q05
https://www.opensecrets.org/industries/totals.php?cycle=2018&ind=Q15


[Edited on February 11, 2019 at 3:50 PM. Reason : .]

2/11/2019 3:44:46 PM

^It's racist because there is a lot more complexity to the term "Jewish" state indicating not just the religion, but the Jewish race (which aaronburro does a pretty good job of touching on).

Additionally,we do not (or should not) criticize any other country simply for having a recognized religion. It's fair game if we criticize an aspect of that religion which we do not agree with (for example, beheading someone just because they are gay). But we shouldn't criticize a country just because their recognized religion is Muslim.

And her comment above actually had some misinformation. Israel actually does recognize religions other than Judaism, including Islam and Christianity.



[Edited on February 11, 2019 at 3:46 PM. Reason : 1]

2/11/2019 3:45:00 PM

This is a good read for some context and ramifications

https://www-foxnews-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.foxnews.com/politics/democratic-lawmakers-slam-rep-omar-over-deeply-hurtful-and-offensive-israel-comments.amp

2/11/2019 4:46:08 PM

I'll chime in now that everyone has gotten the oversimplified talking points out of their systems. Some of you touched on the surface of the big issues here but we need to go deeper. (Note: this is coming from the perspective of a liberal American Jew who also happens to be married to an Israeli...NYM I hope I'm able to provide the perspective you were looking for.) I'll start more broadly and work into the specifics of what Omar said.

Israel, despite being called the Jewish State, was never meant to be a theocracy. The first Zionist Congress (1897) painted a picture of a secular socialist labor society which would be a save haven for those running from Antisemitism in Europe and throughout the Arab world. They saw Israel as a "Jewish State" the same way France is a "French State." They were connected to each other through a national identity more than by a religious one. And just as Germans can live peacefully in France, they didn't have the expectation that Israel would ONLY be for Jews.

There are 27 countries with Islam explicitly made the national religion, and 13 countries which do the same with Christianity. Yet the people who accuse Israel of being exclusive of other people by being a "Jewish State" never mention those other 40 countries. That's a clear double standard. So criticizing Israel for being a Jewish State is anti-Semitic, because it's the Jewish state being singled out among all the others.

However, over time, the religious right has taken over Israeli politics...especially in the last 30 years parallel to how it has happened in America dating back to the Reagan days. And because of Israel's incredibly dumb voting system, Netanyahu has been able to stay in power backed by religious zealots with only ~20% of the support of Israeli citizens. So criticizing Israel's government for bowing to archaic religious policies is not anti-Semitic, because it's absolutely true and 80% of Israelis would agree (as long as that 80% doesn't feel like they are being blamed for the actions of the few). The Israeli Nation-State Bill which was passed last July was no different than Trump moving the embassy to Jerusalem...purely cosmetic meant to appease (or intentionally upset) the right people who care too much about symbols and not enough about practicality, and did nothing to shape any actual law or practices. But it did add fuel to the fire of American anti-Israel activists, which may have been part of the goal.

AIPAC's goal is to keep the American government and Israeli government united in mutual interest. Therefore, AIPAC's stances tend to change as the governments do. AIPAC in the early 90's under Bill Clinton and Yitzak Rabin was drastically different than it was between Bush Jr and Ariel Sharon, and now with Trump and Netanyahu both pushing far-right, xenophobic, religious agendas (and both being big fans of walls), AIPAC still has to somehow appeal to the American Jewish community (which typically 75% identifies as liberal) while not losing any influence with either government. It's an incredibly thin line to walk and they are not doing it well, not that anyone really could. Criticizing AIPAC for buying US politicians is anti-Semitic because it implies Jewish money runs the government (the alt-right loves it when the far left agrees with them) and they really aren't giving that much money ($3.5m in 2018 compared to NRA's $5m and Big Phrama's $28m).

Israeli's criticize their own government just as much as we do the American government. So no, saying negative things about the Israeli government is not anti-Semitic. But making assumptions that Jewish American leaders put Israel's well being over America's, or that Jewish money controls world affairs, or that there is something wrong with the existence of a Jewish state, or that Netanyahu's government is a reflection of all Israel...then yeah you're crossing the line.

So when Omar is on record saying: "Israel has hypnotized the world, may Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel." ...my problem is not with the specific word "hypnotized" but with the condemnation of all Israel as not only evil but as somehow having this secret influence on the entire world...and implying that as soon as a supreme deity removes that influence, Israel (and with it, the Jewish State) will crumble.

No, I'm not offended by "all about the Benjamins." Because I'm not surprised by it and it's far from the worst things she has publicly said about Israel.

2/11/2019 6:27:59 PM

I'd take issue with how many other countries have official state religions. The contention is that Israel wants to bill itself as a Western-style democracy, while also having a state religion. More explicitly, having a state religion which is appears to be actively advancing. No one considers any of the 27 Muslim countries as democracies, much less Western-style ones, save for maybe Egypt (and they still enforce blasphemy laws, so that's not a good look for them). Seriously, Iran and Somalia are not democracies, and no one pretends that they are. Of the Christian nations, you've got a spattering of random ass islands in the Pacific that no one gives a shit about, some tiny-ass principalities in Europe, and then England, Scandinavia, and Greece. For the countries which matter (England, Scandinavian ones, Greece), the designation of a state religion is symbolic, and even if it wasn't, you don't see them actively pushing policies based on those religions.

Israel meanwhile, IS positing itself as a Western-style democracy, while also trying to be the Jewish state. It's not just that it's a Jewish state, it's the Jewish state. Couple that with actions in the West Bank which have all the hallmarks of ethnic cleansing against non-Jews (bulldozing ancestral houses of folks in order to create Jewish settlements), and it's just not a good look. No other western nation is doing anything remotely like that, much less a nation with a state religion. I think both of those things are ripe for criticism for a country which bills itself as a Western-style democracy, and neither have anything to do with a specific religion or ethnicity.

2/11/2019 8:47:25 PM

My issue as an American voter is it seems like the people of Palestine live under the authoritarian thumb of the Israeli government yet our politicians show no sympathy for their plight.

I’m fine if our government wants to be friendly with Israel but it shouldn’t be a scandal to suggest Palestinians deserve better conditions or to point out Israel bears some of the responsibility for their plight.

2/11/2019 9:02:43 PM

^^

2/12/2019 1:52:52 AM

For hundreds of years leading up to the initial founding of Israel as a political state, it was illegal to be Jewish in most of the world's secular democracies (or at the very least Jews did not receive the same rights or treatment as Christian citizens), and it did not matter one bit how religiously observant those Jews were.

75% of Israeli citizens label themselves as Jewish. 67% of those identifying as Jewish also say they are secular. That leaves 25% of the country being religiously practicing Jews, and 50% as members of the Jewish people without practicing the Jewish religion. And Israeli law protects the practice of religion, and explicitly recognizes Muslims, Christians, B'ahai, and Druz among its citizenship. I don't see how Israel being an officially Jewish state is any less symbolic than England or Greece.

Yes the religious right has gained more power than they should (as I said before, terrible election system...they control a majority hold of the Knesset despite only representing a small portion of the citizens) and that is reflected in the lawmaking like the Nation-State bill last summer.

Quote :

"you don't see them actively pushing policies based on those religions."

Except...yes, we see them do exactly that ALL THE TIME. United States is 75% Christian, supposedly protects freedom of religious practice and separates the state from the church, and yet calling for the New Testament to be the law of the land does not immediately disqualify a person from serving in any branch of the federal government, and Trump is nowhere near the first President to claim he was elected by the will of a deity. We have states governing who can marry who and who can do what with their bodies all because of what the Bible tells them is moral and immoral. The Bible defended slavery, defended segregation, defended gay bashing, and is being used to dictate who can and can't serve in the military. And the religious right in every single "Western-style democracy" does the same, no matter if they have an official religion or not.

Quote :

"Couple that with actions in the West Bank which have all the hallmarks of ethnic cleansing against non-Jews"

Yes the actions in the territories are a huge problem. Right now we're talking about the religion of Israeli citizens, and there is no pushing out of non-Jews (the non-Jewish population is in fact growing faster than the Jewish population, and that is also reflected in more and more non-Jews being elected to the Israeli parliament). And the expansion of the territories is also being done by that parliamentary majority that does not reflect the majority view of the citizens.

Quote :

"it shouldn’t be a scandal to suggest Palestinians deserve better conditions or to point out Israel bears some of the responsibility for their plight"

Only far-right nut jobs would say that's a scandal. Most liberal Jews in America agree with you. The scandal is to suggest there shouldn't be a Jewish state in existence, and Ilhan Omar has absolutely crossed that line in the past (though I don't think she did with the most recent tweet that people are going crazy over).


The next election is just two months away, and the centrists have begun to pull off from Netanyahu's Likud party, which is becoming ever more-so bosom buddies with the religious right, and combined with Avigdor Lieberman's party, who is the greatest threat to the peace process on Israel's side). Unfortunately the left and center will not be able to create a majority coalition without the Arab MKs, who so far have refused to partner with any Jewish party. It will be even harder now that Ta'al has split from the Joint Arab List, which will likely split the Arab vote and hurt their representation.

2/12/2019 2:19:07 AM

Quote :

"AIPAC's goal is to keep the American government and Israeli government united in mutual interest. "

This may be the stated goal but it’s not reality. The “aligning of interest” only moves in one direction, toward Israel’s goals. The goal of AIPAC is to influence the American government such that the American government aligns (or complies) with Israeli interest, NEVER THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

The perfect example of this is Netanyahu’s speech to Congress in 2015. It was totally unprecedented. AIPAC was literally cheerleading and scoring congresspeople on whether they attended the speech. BiBi LIED ABOUT AND DISPARAGED OUR SITTING PRESIDENT FOR ATTEMPTING TO AVOID WAR WITH IRAN. Rather than try to allay tensions and find some middle ground on the Iran issue, AIPAC was actively working with the state of Israel to undermine our president in order to start a war with Iran.


Fuck Israel, Fuck AIPAC, I just sent Rep. Omar $30

2/12/2019 6:43:08 AM

Quote :

" goal of AIPAC is to influence the American government such that the American government aligns (or complies) with Israeli interest"

Anti Semitism!!!

2/12/2019 7:20:21 AM

Quote :

") and they really aren't giving that much money ($3.5m in 2018 compared to NRA's $5m and Big Phrama's $28m)."

pro-israel linterest groups have about $15M in contributions - it's comparable to telecom, health services, automotive, or defense aerospace - AIPAC is just their top lobbying client.

https://www.opensecrets.org/industries/totals.php?cycle=2018&ind=Q05

Quote :

"Only far-right nut jobs would say that's a scandal. "

ahahaaha, good laugh

[Edited on February 12, 2019 at 8:42 AM. Reason : .]

2/12/2019 8:41:54 AM

Aipac to apologize for saying Aipac uses money for influence
https://theintercept.com/2019/02/11/ilhan-omar-israel-lobby-documentary/

2/12/2019 9:11:39 AM

Quote :

"ow with Trump and Netanyahu both pushing far-right, xenophobic, religious agendas (and both being big fans of walls), AIPAC still has to somehow appeal to the American Jewish community (which typically 75% identifies as liberal) while not losing any influence with either government."

Thanks and that does a good job of explaining the relationship to someone who is pretty ignorant about it (me). This sort of is what Chris Hayes is tweeting about currently but does it seem to you that AIPAC is in danger of going the way of the NRA? At one time the NRA had a common sense goal. They obviously chose to cater to the hard right and have basically become a propoganda arm.

I get that AIPAC needs to align certain interests but then I look at statements from, say, J Street and it just seems like two massively different trains of thought.

2/12/2019 9:50:56 AM

Quote :

"Except...yes, we see them do exactly that ALL THE TIME. United States is 75% Christian, supposedly protects freedom of religious practice and separates the state from the church, and yet calling for the New Testament to be the law of the land does not immediately disqualify a person from serving in any branch of the federal government, and Trump is nowhere near the first President to claim he was elected by the will of a deity. We have states governing who can marry who and who can do what with their bodies all because of what the Bible tells them is moral and immoral. The Bible defended slavery, defended segregation, defended gay bashing, and is being used to dictate who can and can't serve in the military. And the religious right in every single "Western-style democracy" does the same, no matter if they have an official religion or not."

The US also doesn't have an official state religion. Which is what we were talking about. Get out of here with that weak stuff, man. And if I wanted to address that nonsense, it would be easy to knock it out of the park.

Quote :

"Right now we're talking about the religion of Israeli citizens, and there is no pushing out of non-Jews"

Oh, come the fuck on. Israel is literally bulldozing the homes of non-Jews and replacing them with homes for Jews. And your defense is "they aren't Israeli citizens"? Get the fuck out of here with that. This is about a billion times worse than some slapnut in Alabama saying he wants the NT to be law of the land. FFS, at this point, the only thing Israel hasn't done is fire up the damn crematoriums. Calling it "problematic" is an understatement.

[Edited on February 12, 2019 at 5:15 PM. Reason : ]

2/12/2019 5:13:32 PM

Quote :

"The US also doesn't have an official state religion"

I know that, which is why I used it as an example because:

Quote :

"the religious right in every single "Western-style democracy" does the same, no matter if they have an official religion or not."

Name one single country in the world with a clear religious majority group which doesn't try to use their religion to dictate national law. Then explain to me why it's not ok with people that a Jewish state exists, and how that's not a double standard.

When the religious right in America enacts a crazy law, I read "Look what the religious right is doing!" But when the religious right in Israel enacts a crazy law, I read "Look what Israel is doing!"

Quote :

" And your defense is "they aren't Israeli citizens"?"

I wasn't defending it, I have continued to explicitly condemn the destruction of homes, displacement of people, and further building of settlements in disputed territory. I was narrowing the scope of the conversation to undisputed land/borders/citizenship. Go walk around a shopping mall in Tel Aviv and then tell me whether or not Muslim Arab Israelis are being "cleansed" from the population.

2/12/2019 8:25:51 PM

Whether a faction within a country "tries" to push its religion is irrelevant if there are meaningful obstacles in the governmental structure to prevent it. Some slapnut in Alabama yelling "THE BIBLE SHOULD BE LAW" will be bitch-slapped by the Supreme Court pretty damned fast. Laws promoting religion are routinely struck down by our courts. Kim Davis got thrown in jail for even trying it. Meanwhile, Israel passed its nation-state law, and it has no chance of being overturned. While you argue it is only "symbolic," there are glaring issues with things it may allow, which even Israeli politicians have voiced concerns over. This is a huge difference, man.

Comparing internal reporting versus international reporting is equally specious, as we should expect local reporting to have a better understanding of the nuance regarding local and national issues. And you seem to be ignoring the reports of how Russia is cracking down on its LGBT community, or how Myanmar is suppressing the Rohingya people. Israel is not treated any differently in that department.

Finally, you don't get a fucking cookie for limiting your ethnic cleansing to just disputed territories while sparing your own citizens.

2/12/2019 9:07:51 PM

Here in the US we are passing anti-BDS laws and it's not because there was some grassroots support of Americans calling for anti-BDS laws. If a politician here in the US criticizes settlements they get attacked.

2/13/2019 7:30:43 AM

Quote :

"Name one single country in the world with a clear religious majority group which doesn't try to use their religion to dictate national law. Then explain to me why it's not ok with people that a Jewish state exists, and how that's not a double standard."

For many of us I think it boils down to Israel's unique situation vis-a-vis the Palestinians. Taken in a vacuum, Israel declaring itself a Jewish state is no big deal. I don't think any country should declare a state religion, but as you say, many do it.

The problem is that Israel still hasn't settled its Palestine situation, leaving it unclear whether or not Gaza and the West Bank are eventually going to be absorbed into this Jewish state whether they want to or not. Meanwhile Israel has its own large and growing Arab minority who are ticked off for the same reason, and it's hard not to view the Jewish state declaration as anything other than a direct "fuck you" to that group.

In short, the issue isn't that we're picking on Israel because it is Jewish - it's just that for most of us, Israel is viewed entirely through the lens of the Palestinian issue, and through that lens declaring a national religion seems like yet another Israeli government attempt to pointlessly aggravate the Palestinians.

Quote :

"When the religious right in America enacts a crazy law, I read "Look what the religious right is doing!" But when the religious right in Israel enacts a crazy law, I read "Look what Israel is doing!" "

Now this is simply untrue. There are loads of people who treat America as a wannabe far-right theocracy - many of them Americans, several of them on this board. And when individual states pass crazy laws, we don't say, "The religious right in Kansas banned science books with dinosaurs!" or whatever, we say, "Kansas is shitty."

Referring to a government by national name rather than the political faction that controls it is common and accepted practice. In fact, to use the political party in lieu of the country would be an unusual move typically reserved for our worst enemies - "the Nazis," "the Communists." So no, we don't say, "Israel's far-right government, which remains in power due to its effective manipulation of ill-conceived election laws, passed a law declaring Israel to be a Jewish state." We say "Israel passed a law declaring itself to be a Jewish state." In much the same way, foreign press doesn't give a history of the electoral college and the two-party system going back to Martin van Buren every time they want to report on something dumb America did; they say America did it (or, if we're lucky, they say Trump did it).

In summary: I don't believe it is reasonable to put an "anti-semitic" label on opposition to Israel declaring itself a Jewish state, at least for the reasons you've offered so far.

And of course, part of the reason why I hate discussing Israel/Palestine is that the issue makes me constantly argue against myself because it's so damn convoluted. Because at the end of the day, as I've tried to make clear, I'm not opposed to Israel declaring itself a Jewish state. I'm also not opposed in principle to Jerusalem being recognized as the capital of that state. But I am opposed to doing either of those things right now, because they make it that much harder to fix the already near-impossible problems facing the region.

2/13/2019 10:27:56 AM

Netanyahu: Israel Is the Nation-state of Jews Alone

3/10/2019 7:51:47 PM

^

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-israel-is-the-nation-state-of-jews-alone-netanyahu-responds-to-tv-star-who-said-arabs-are-equal-citizens-1.7003348

3/11/2019 4:38:42 PM

https://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/mar/25/mike-pompeo-warns-anti-zionism-new-anti-semitism-a/

Quote :

"Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned Monday that “anti-Zionism” is becoming the new form of anti-semitism, and firmly committed the administration to fight it."

Holy Shit.

3/25/2019 7:33:18 PM

I thought it was in another thread but Pompeo also continued the new trend of saying the quiet parts loud and said that Trump was sent by Jesus to save Israel.

3/25/2019 7:43:01 PM

http://www.arabnews.com/node/1453711/middle-east
Israel clears Palestinians from Jerusalem home claimed by settlers

Conclusion: Israel is a Nazi state

http://www.arabnews.com/node/1454601/middle-east
Future [American] rabbis plant with Palestinians, sow rift with Israel

Conclusion: Not all Jews are Nazis

3/26/2019 6:33:53 AM

Here's Chuck Schumer both-sidesing Ilhan Omar:

Quote :

"“When someone names only prominent Jews as trying to buy or steal our elections, we must call it out. When someone says that being Jewish and supporting Israel means you’re not loyal to America, we must call it out. When someone looks at a neo-Nazi rally and sees some ‘very fine people’ among its company, we must call it out. When someone suggests money drives support for Israel, we must call it out.”"

3/26/2019 10:45:35 AM

Omar got dragged hard by a lot of people. It’s pretty clear that anyone, but especially a Muslim, asking questions about the US-Israel relationship absolutely terrifies them.

3/26/2019 6:45:21 PM

Absolutely vile POS

https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/israel-s-benjamin-netanyahu-says-he-plans-to-annex-settlements-in-west-bank-1.845774

4/7/2019 5:15:24 PM

Man, I’m sure the VERY SERIOUS people who were upset about Omar are going to crush Trump for his speech yesterday which didn’t even dance around dual-loyalty and skipped right to Netanyahu being Jewish-American’s leader.

4/7/2019 7:39:14 PM

"Trump Heights" settlement

6/17/2019 9:31:05 AM

Israeli crews demolish Palestinian homes in east Jerusalem
https://apnews.com/c29a44a486cd4e0ea31fac19ed9b75cf

Quote :

"In a joint statement, senior U.N. humanitarian officials in the region expressed “sadness” over the demolitions and warned that many other homes could face “the same fate.” “Israel’s policy of destroying Palestinian property is not compatible with its obligations under international humanitarian law,” they said."

7/23/2019 9:34:44 AM

So, Likud is basically an extension of the Trump GOP, right?

Good precedent being set by banning Tlaib and Omar from visiting. I hope the next Democratic regime in DC bans Bibi from coming.

And this is not about anything they’ve said. GOP congressman have done far worse and been far more anti-Semitic. It’s about what Trump wanted. Fuck Netanyahu. Israel will be better off when he’s dead or in jail.

[Edited on August 15, 2019 at 7:33 AM. Reason : Lx]

8/15/2019 7:26:40 AM

Yup, I’d absolutely say Likud and the GOP are joined at the hip at this point.

What I do wonder is if the average Likud supporter in Israel understands the Trump’s GOP associations with white supremacists and neo-nazis. American Jews are being arrested in numbers protesting ICE, American Jews are rightfully terrified of more synagogue shootings, do Israeli Jews even care?

8/15/2019 7:42:00 AM

I’m kind of agnostic towards Omar and Tlaib. I know about their more well known comments and do feel sometimes Omar is coming from the right place but can be a bit naive, but I don’t know their overall politics well.

BUT, is there any OK way to critique the Israeli government from the left anymore that isn’t immediately called anti-Semitic by the right and center? Are they above all criticism?

Not only that but Israel is betting but that the GOP will remain in power for a long time. It’s so short-sighted for Bibi to basically not even try for bi-partisan congressional support.

[Edited on August 15, 2019 at 7:52 AM. Reason : C]

8/15/2019 7:51:12 AM

no, any criticism is not okay, even BDS is called violent and anti-semitic

8/15/2019 8:58:56 AM

Quote :

"I’m kind of agnostic towards Omar and Tlaib. I know about their more well known comments and do feel sometimes Omar is coming from the right place but can be a bit naive, but I don’t know their overall politics well."

Why? What comments have made you feel this way?

Tlaib in particular has relatives in Palestine. Her restraint in criticizing Israel is actually incredible.

8/15/2019 10:39:16 AM

I can’t think of anything Tlaib has said that was even remotely controversial.

Omar has said things that were taken out of context that I personally don’t think were bad but I understand it did upset some good faith people. Like I said, not out of malevolence or anti-semitism but solely out of naivety. It’s not even really a criticism.

And what Trump has said about them in the past and this morning is so far beyond the pale it is ridiculous.

[Edited on August 15, 2019 at 11:07 AM. Reason : X]

8/15/2019 11:06:28 AM

I'm not sure it's naivety--I think Omar & Tlaib are brave for telling the truth about an apartheid state. The discussion around Israel is so warped that supporting a boycott of Israel goods is considered anti-Semitism by many. When your messaging is out of bounds of the mainstream center left or center right opinion, you always risk upsetting people, and that's okay.

8/15/2019 11:26:57 AM

I find is really strange Israel would acquiesce to this. It sets a dangerous precedent for them that they're only friends to Republicans, when historically both democrats and republicans have show excessive deference towards them.

If they want to be partisan with American politics, that's not going to end well...

8/15/2019 12:28:10 PM

Bibi, much like Trump gives zero fucks about anything but himself (and maybe his family which is actually more than Trump cares about — he’d throw Jr and Eric under a bus so fast they wouldn’t know what hit them).

8/15/2019 12:46:42 PM