Trump blasts Omar’s latest remarks: A ‘dark day for Israel’

Rep. Ilhan Omar’s latest anti-Semitic trope raises sensitivity of supposed dual loyalty of pro-Israel U.S. Jews.

By World Israel News Staff

U.S. President Donald Trump says that the latest comment made by U.S. Democratic congresswoman Ilhan Omar relating to Jews and Israel marks a “dark day” for the Jewish State.

“Representative Ilhan Omar is again under fire for her terrible comments concerning Israel. Jewish groups have just sent a petition to Speaker Pelosi asking her to remove Omar from Foreign Relations Committee. A dark day for Israel!” Trump said on Twitter.

Trump was responding to Omar’s tweet, in which she wrote: “I should not be expected to have allegiance/pledge support to a foreign country in order to serve my country in Congress or serve on committee.”

Her comments were seen as suggesting that encouraging support for Israel amounts to advocating allegiance to a foreign country.

It followed her accusation in February that the AIPAC pro-Israel lobby group in Washington was paying off members of Congress to gain their support for Israel.

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., said that her most recent comment was another example of anti-Semitism. The issue of dual loyalty has long been a sensitive issue for many U.S. Jews who support Israel, insisting that they are first and foremost American though working to safeguard Israeli interests.

A number of Jewish groups wrote to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Monday, asking for Omar to be removed from the committee.

“In light of Rep. Ilhan Omar’s recent anti-Semitic tweets, statements, and address before Islamic Relief USA on Saturday, February 23rd, we, the undersigned organizations, request that you immediately remove her as a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee,” the groups wrote.

Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, also wrote to Pelosi on Monday and asked that the House draw up a resolution condemning her statements.

Greenblatt wrote that accusing Jews of having dual loyalties has “long been a vile anti-Semitic slur.”

In response, Democrats drafted a resolution denouncing anti-Semitism.

According to news website Politico, Democrats intend to put the measure, which would likely have universal Republican support, to the floor on Wednesday.

Rep. Nita Lowey, a New York Democrat, had posted on Twitter that anti-Muslim stereotyping of Omar was offensive and should be roundly condemned, and that, for the same reason, Omar’s repeated use of anti-Semitic tropes should be, as well.

“I am saddened that Rep. Omar continues to mischaracterize support for Israel. I urge her to retract this statement and engage in further dialogue with the Jewish community on why these comments are so hurtful,” wrote Lowey.

“The people of the 5th [Congressional District of Minnesota] elected me to serve their interest. I am sure we agree on that!,” Omar told  Lowey, hinting that Lowey’s support for Israel was not in the interests of her congressional district in New York.

Omar added that “I have not mischaracterized our relationship with Israel, I have questioned it.”

anti-SemitismIlhan Omar