Omar introduces pro-BDS, anti-Israel resolution in US Congress, will visit Israel soon

Dogged by persistent accusations of anti-Semitism, U.S. lawmaker Ilhan Omar announced her intention to introduce pro-BDS, anti-Israel legislation in the House of Representatives.

By JNS

U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) said that she plans to introduce this week a resolution in support of the anti-Israel BDS movement, reported Al-Monitor on Tuesday.

“We are introducing a resolution … to really speak about the American values that support and believe in our ability to exercise our first amendment rights in regard to boycotting,” the congresswoman told the outlet. “And it is an opportunity for us to explain why it is we support a nonviolent movement, which is the BDS movement.”

Omar also announced her plans to visit Israel and Palestinian areas in a few weeks. “I am going in a couple of weeks and so I’ll learn more.” she said.

Since entering Congress in January, Omar has made remarks that resulted in accusations of anti-Semitism and anti-Israel bias.

In February, she accused the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the largest pro-Israel lobbying organization, of paying members of Congress to back Israel, noting that it was “all about the Benjamins.”

The following month, she pointed fingers at her “Jewish colleagues” for attacking her and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) for labeling their criticisms as anti-Israel because of the Muslim faith of the two congresswomen, in addition to slamming her critics regarding “the political influence in this country that says it is OK to push for allegiance to a foreign country.”

This led to the passing of a resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives condemning anti-Semitism and other forms of hatred that did not call out Omar by name.