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AIPAC CEO slams Omar’s comments: ‘Defamation masquerading as discourse’

The pro-Israel lobby CEO vows to “respond” to the “intense hatred of Israel” which he says “is creeping from the margins to the center” of U.S. politics.

By World Israel News Staff

Howard Kohr, CEO of the AIPAC pro-Israel lobby group, slammed on Sunday the recent comments made by Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) accusing supporters of Israel in the U.S. of dual loyalty.

Without mentioning Omar by name, Kohr used the podium at the opening of the annual AIPAC policy conference in Washington to charge that comments questioning the loyalty of Americans who support Israel are no more than “defamation masquerading as discourse.”

He warned of the impact that such statements have, saying that “critics are emboldened and energized” and the “false claims are taken at face value by new and broader audiences,” said Kohr, referring to the widescale impact of social media.

Omar last month challenged “the political influence in this country that says it is okay for people to push for allegiance to a foreign country.”

The AIPAC leader also seemed to be lamenting increasing opposition within the U.S. Democratic Party to Israel, cutting away at what had been previously seen as unquestioned bipartisan support in Congress for the Jewish State.

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“They say you can’t be a good progressive and supporter of Israel, and now they’re saying you can’t even be a good American and be a supporter of Israel. The intense hatred of Israel is creeping from the margins to the center of our national politics,” Kohr said.

However, he vowed that pro-Israel activists would fight back. “We will respond,” Kohr declared.

“Our detractors think we’ll fold if we’re pushed. They don’t know what we’re made of,” said the AIPAC CEO.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Washington on Sunday.  He is scheduled to meet President Donald Trump on Monday and address the AIPAC conference on Tuesday.