Jewish Group

Behind the Aegis

(53,959 posts) Thu Mar 7, 2019, 06:41 AM Mar 2019

(Jewish Group) The Ilhan Omar anti-Semitism controversy, explained

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The long-simmering controversy over Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN)’s heated language on Israel has reached a boiling point — with House Democrats weighing a plan to vote on a resolution clearly designed to punish one of their own rising stars.

Omar had already stirred controversy with comments last month attributing pro-Israel sentiment to the financial clout of the pro-Israel lobby. Then last week, she spoke about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on a panel with Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), who, like Omar, is a first-term member of Congress and a Muslim.

“I want to talk about the political influence in this country that says it is okay to push for allegiance to a foreign country,” Omar said as part of a discussion about past anti-Semitism allegations lobbed at her.

In full context, Omar doesn’t explicitly identify who or what this “political influence” is coming from. But given her previous comments, the latest remarks struck many observers as playing into well-worn anti-Semitic tropes about Jewish attachments to Israel making them disloyal to the United States. Some were no longer inclined to give her the benefit of the doubt. On Monday, House Democrats unveiled plans to vote on a resolution condemning anti-Semitism that reads as a clear rebuke of Omar personally, criticizing the “insidious, bigoted history” of “accusations of dual loyalty.”

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(Jewish Group) The Ilhan Omar anti-Semitism controversy, explained (Original Post) Behind the Aegis Mar 2019 OP

There is nothing wrong with divided loyalty to the interests of Israel Cicada Mar 2019 #1

I believe this is the truth: madaboutharry Mar 2019 #2

This group MosheFeingold Mar 2019 #3

Cicada

(4,533 posts)

1. There is nothing wrong with divided loyalty to the interests of Israel

Reply to Behind the Aegis (Original post)

Thu Mar 7, 2019, 07:59 AM

Mar 2019

The US paid a huge cost to support the interest of Vietnam. Or Iraq. Or Europe. There was nothing disloyal about that. I believe many Jews believe the US should pay a high cost to further the interests of Israel. I do not feel as strongly about that but my different belief is not anti Semitic. American Jews have every right to believe that. American evangelicals have every right to believe that. American Democrats or Republicans have every right to have “divided loyalty.” There is nothing wrong with divided loyalty which includes strong support for Israel. Or strong support for catholic nations. Or India. I can say we should not pay a high price to favor the interests of India without being thought anti Indian. I can say I do not agree that the US should favor the interests of Israel without being anti Semitic. I can say I believe some Americans have divided loyalty without that meaning I wish harm to those whose views differ from mine. What the hell is wrong with being a super strong supporter of Israel or India or Europe? And why is it wrong to take the opposite view?

madaboutharry

(40,212 posts)

2. I believe this is the truth:

Reply to Behind the Aegis (Original post)

Thu Mar 7, 2019, 08:02 AM

Mar 2019

If you go far enough to the left, you run straight into the wall with anti-semitic slurs written on it.
And this has been true since 1948. And it has been especially true since the 6th day of the 1967 war. Denying this will only bring disaster to the Democratic party.

The future of Israel lies in a two state solution. Anti-semitic stereotypes and tropes do not need to be part of any conversation to achieve that.

MosheFeingold

(3,051 posts)

3. This group

Reply to Behind the Aegis (Original post)

Thu Mar 7, 2019, 11:40 AM

Mar 2019

Has not called for a two-state solution (or, the even more logical absorption of the PA into Jordon, which was the original UN plan).

Omar, by inference, and Tlab, expressly, have called for a "one state solution" -- that is, the conquering of Israel by Muslims and the murder or expulsion of 6,500,000 Jews from Israel.

There is zero middle ground with that position.

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