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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued a rebuke to Ilhan Omar on Thursday, after the outspoken Minnesota congresswoman said she had been the victim of “harassment and silencing” by fellow Democrats over a comment about the United States, Israel, Afghanistan and Hamas.
“Drawing false equations between democracies like the United States and Israel and groups that engage in terrorism like Hamas and the Taliban incites prejudice and undermines progress toward a future of peace and security for all,” Pelosi said in a statement issued with the House Majority Leader. and Steny Hoyer and other members of the party hierarchy.
Omar made the initial comments on Monday, in a tweet accompanying the video to a question she directed to Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, at a House hearing.
“We must have the same level of accountability and justice for all victims of crimes against humanity,” Omar wrote. We have seen unimaginable atrocities committed by the United States, Hamas, Israel, Afghanistan and the Taliban. I asked Minister Blinken where people are supposed to go for justice.”
The tweet sparked controversy for appearing to equate the actions of the United States and Israel with those of Hamas, an armed organization linked to Iran in the Palestinian territories designated by the United States as a terrorist group, the Taliban, American Islamic extremists and coalition forces. I fought in Afghanistan for nearly 20 years.
In May, the conflict between Israel and Hamas resulted in 12 deaths in Israel and 248 in the Palestinian territories – and accusations of war crimes from both sides.
While Republicans accused Omar of anti-Semitism and pushed for her expulsion from the House Foreign Affairs Committee, a group of Jewish House Democrats issued their own criticism.
“Equating the United States and Israel with Hamas and the Taliban is as misguided as it is,” they wrote in a statement. Ignoring the differences between democracies governed by the rule of law and despicable organizations that engage in terrorism at best distorts the intended argument and at worst reflects deep-rooted bias.
The United States and Israel are imperfect and, like all democracies, sometimes deserve criticism, but faulty equations provide cover for terrorist groups. We urge Congresswoman Omar to clarify her statement.”
Omar replied on Twitter: “It is a shame for colleagues who call me when they need my support that they now issue a statement asking for ‘clarification’ and not just a call. The anti-Islamic metaphors in this statement are offensive. The continued harassment and silencing of the signatories to this letter is intolerable. .
Citing an open case against Israel, the United States, Hamas and the Taliban in Iraq [International Criminal Court] It is not a comparison or a “deep-rooted bias”. They may try to undermine these investigations or deny justice to their victims, but history believes that the truth cannot be hidden or silenced forever.”
She also retweeted the comments of MSNBC host Mehdi Hassan, who said: “Maybe these House Democrats should read beyond the Fox/Daily Mail headlines and fake outrage and not help incite more hate against Omar.”
Omar has reported receiving threats, including calling her a “raghead N-word” and her staff as an “anti-American communist piece.”[s] of shit.”
“This is the kind of incitement and hatred that leads to real violence,” she said.
Omar came to the United States from Somalia as a child, and in 2018 she was one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress. With the other, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, is a member of the so-called “squad” of Democratic women of color whose progressive values and use of the media spotlight often put them at odds with party leaders.
Among the Democrats who came to Omar’s defense amid controversy over her remark about Hamas and the Taliban, Missouri representative Cory Bush said, “I’m not surprised when Republicans attack black women for standing up for human rights. But when it comes to Democrats, it’s especially painful for us colleagues. Speak up. Directly to us. Enough of the anti-blackness and Islamophobia.”
On Thursday, Omar clarified her remarks, saying she is not making a “moral comparison between Hamas and the Taliban, the United States and Israel” and “in no way equates terrorist organizations with democratic countries.”
“We welcome Congressman Omar’s clarification that there is no moral equivalence between the United States, Israel, Hamas and the Taliban,” Pelosi and Hoyer said.
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