OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Far-left Rep. Ilhan Omar is facing yet another censure in the House of Representatives for her overt anti-Semitic remarks even as Jewish residents in her Minnesota district become uncomfortable with her, and she faces a stiff primary challenge.
As reported by The Epoch Times, representing a diverse district with a high concentration of Jewish voters and a significant Muslim population can be challenging for any individual. There are 11 synagogues and 19 mosques in the 5th Congressional District, which Omar has represented since 2019.
In the March presidential primary, 19 percent of Democratic voters across Minnesota went to the polls and chose “uncommitted,” signaling their dissatisfaction with President Joe Biden’s decision not to call for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict. In Omar’s district, this figure was notably higher, with nearly 32 percent of Democratic voters selecting “uncommitted,” the outlet said.
Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) introduced the censure resolution against Omar, the latter being one of the first Muslims elected to Congress. He cited remarks she made at Columbia University on April 25, where she referred to some Jewish students as “pro-genocide,” as the reason for the censure.
Fighters belonging to Hamas, which is viewed as a terrorist organization by the United States, attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing nearly 1,300 people and taking more than 250 people hostage, including some Americans. Israeli forces gathered video footage taken of the attacks and showed it to journalists, many of whom described the acts committed against unarmed Israeli civilians and children as barbaric and inhumane.
Omar also recently spoke at a protest encampment at the University of Minnesota, located within her district, where she delivered a speech similar to one she gave at Columbia University. She was at Columbia to support her daughter, a student there, who was among the pro-Palestinian protesters Omar addressed.
“I think it is really unfortunate that people don’t care about the fact that all Jewish kids should be kept safe,” Omar told the protesters. “We should not have to tolerate anti-Semitism or bigotry for all Jewish students, whether they’re pro-genocide or anti-genocide.”
Her spokeswoman has informed various media outlets that Omar unequivocally condemned anti-Semitism and bigotry against all Jewish students. However, her use of the term “pro-genocide” prompted the latest censure action by Republicans. But the move to censure was also political fodder for Omar’s Democratic challengers.
“Once again, we’re in an unfortunate and familiar cycle,“ Democrat congressional candidate Don Samuels told the Epoch Times in an email. ”Congresswoman Ilhan Omar says something inflammatory and offensive. Republicans, with repeat offenders in their ranks, weaponize it. Rinse and repeat.”
A former member of the Minneapolis City Council, Samuels lost to Omar by 2 percentage points in the 2022 primary.
In 2019, Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.) introduced a resolution “condemning the anti-Semitic comments” of Omar.
The resolution recounted comments she had made. In 2012, for instance, Omar posted in a tweet, “Israel has hypnotized the world, may Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel.”
In 2018, Omar posted, “Drawing attention to the apartheid Israeli regime is far from hating Jews.”
At the time, then-House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi denounced the statements, saying, “We condemn these remarks and call upon Congresswoman Omar to immediately apologize.” Omar did so in February 2019.
“Anti-Semitism is real and I am grateful for Jewish allies and colleagues who are educating me of the painful history of Anti-Semitic tropes,” she posted. “My intention is never to offend my constituents or Jewish Americans as a whole. We have to always be willing to step back and think through criticism, just as I expect people to hear me when others attack me for my identity. This is why I unequivocally apologize.”
