I’ve read Rep. Omar’s recent comments about the influence of the pro-Israel lobby in American politics and honestly, they only way they can be considered anti-Semitic is if you consider any criticism of the government of Israel or American foreign policy toward it to be, per se, anti-Semitic.
“But she’s talking about money! And everyone knows the libel against Jews as fat-cat wealthy people!” And, yes, those are pernicious and anti-Semitic stereotypes (ironically garbled from anti-Semitic prejudice that allowed European Jews to lend money at interest, then socially punished them for it).
But the money flowing into pro-Israeli lobbying coffers and political action committees isn’t just from American Jews. Political and financial support for Israel comes from a substantial chunk of the Christian Right (some of whom see an Israeli state as necessary for the End Times). Other non-Jewish Americans see Israel as a stalwart ally (which could be debated, though in Middle Eastern terms they’re probably better than a lot of the alternatives), or as a representative democracy in region full of autocrats (which makes unwillingness to criticize the actions of that democracy all the more odd), or believe in a Zionist goal of a Jewish homeland given the historically terrible and devastating history of European Jewry that culminated in the Holocaust.
So equating criticism of money spent on behalf of Israeli interests through PACs and lobbying with criticism of wealthy Jews is kind of a stretch, unless you make it a whole lot clearer that’s what you’re doing.
I don’t see any of that in Rep. Omar’s statements.
“But now she’s talking about allegiance, and we all know about the pernicious accusation that Jews have a divided loyalty between the nation and other Jews.” I’m well familiar with that, including the analogous anti-Catholic prejudice that we seem to have gotten over as a nation. And, again, we see the twisted history of a persecuted community ghettoized and forced to band together against prejudice becoming, itself, taken as a “divided loyalty.”
But, again, Rep. Omar didn’t say that Jews were pushing for (or held) an allegiance to a foreign power. She was clearly noting that there are a lot of politicians who are so knee-jerk pro-Israel that, regardless of whether it is in American interests or not, they will support Israeli government actions. As might be demonstrated by, well, anyone criticizing Israeli state actions drawing criticism as being anti-Semitic and anti-American and pernicious and deserving of rebuke and punishment.
Sort of like what’s happening to Rep. Omar.
One might expect it in politicians and pundits framing everything about Israel as a false dichotomy — you either steadfastly stand behind the Israeli state, no matter what it does, no matter what level of apartheid it enforces, no matter how it deals in bad faith with the Palestinians, no matter how it drags down American relations with other states in the region — or you’re un-American, you’re anti-democracy, you want Israel destroyed, and you’re an anti-Semite.
Which does, in fact, seem to be the reaction going on. Which makes suggestions that some folk seem have as much allegiance to Israel as to America a rhetorically uncomfortable but not altogether unjust.
All of which is a ridiculous position to take. We criticize our own government for its actions … why can we not criticize Israel’s government? We can say that Trump, or Obama, or Bush, or Clinton are dumb or corrupt or destructive or whatever … why can we not criticize Benjamin Netanyahu as vigorously? We can say that the US is doing something wrong … why can we not say that Israel is doing something wrong. We can critique our government’s actions without suggesting that America should be destroyed … why is criticism of Israeli government policy made out to be a desire to see Israel destroyed.
It’s altogether possible that someone doesn’t think that Israel isn’t acting wrongly in its relations with its neighbors and with the Palestinian Arabs. Fine. But we should be able to have that debate without recourse either to (a) blaming it on the Jews or (b) being accused of blaming it on the Jews.
But if critical suggestions that a wide array of American supporters (not just Jewish ones) and politicians (ditto) seem to have knee-jerk support for anything that the Israeli government does draw fire as being inherently anti-Semitic … well, I think it merely confirms the suggestions being made.
Do you want to know more?
- House Dems will take floor action to confront Omar’s latest Israel comments
- Trump calls controversial Omar comments ‘a dark day for Israel’
- Ilhan Omar’s Criticism Raises the Question: Is Aipac Too Powerful?
- Ocasio-Cortez calls condemnation of Omar ‘hurtful’
- She Wouldn’t Promise Not to Boycott Israel, So a Texas School District Stopped Paying Her
- A Texas Elementary School Speech Pathologist Refused to Sign a Pro-Israel Oath, Now Mandatory in Many States — so She Lost Her Job
Maybe, just maybe, people are worried when criticize Israel. The history with the Holocaust in Europe started with the premise that Jews controlled all the money. Then, there was the rumor that spread about Jews using the blood of Christians in their meals-blood libel (this is a true fact-I found it hard to believe), has been around since the 1100’s. Then, you add in the magical or hypnotizing power aspect of her comment, I can see where many would be upset.
So, when one starts making generalized comments formed as “criticisms”, some start to get worried. She and her other Rep. Tlaib are never specific of what policies they are criticizing or where their origin of the criticism. And, to make the statement that it’s just like the criticism of Catholics in the US is stretching it.
You must not be a practicing Catholic because if you walked around yesterday with the Sign of the Cross on your forehead, you were either looked at funny, given someone’s opinion of the Church (majority not friendly) or told you had a smug on your forehead. But, the reason the criticism of the Church has appeared to wane is due to the fact they went far left, which makes them okay in the eyes of the progressives.
We can already assume, especially from Ms. Tlaib, she is for a Palestinian State and so is Ms. Omar. So is the Nation of Israel. Israel has made 6 different offers to the Palestinian leadership for their own State, but each time they have rejected the proposals. The only solution is for Israel to be gone. Ironically, Palestine was never a nation. The origin of the name Palestine is from the Muslim conquerors. There has never been a King of Palestine, nor an official ruler such as you’ve had with Israel, Syria, Egypt, etc… I can go on, I’ve read a lot regarding this situation. So, they believe they are doing the same thing as politicians that fought Apartheid. Which, if you do research and are truly honest with that research, Israel is 180 degrees opposite of Apartheid. Muslims possess the same freedoms as Jews in Israel. In fact, Israel has had Muslims on their highest court system and serve in the Kneeset.
These comments regarding Israel are meant for a specific purpose, to minimize support for Israel. Israel may not be perfect, but it is the only Democracy in the region that allows all religious faiths to practice and freedom to choose your sexual/gender preference. In fact, Ms. Omar comments that she didn’t know that the hypnotizing and money comments were offensive is a lie. The Jewish community in her area, specifically told her what was considered anti-Semitic before her primary.
Lastly, if they’re goal is to end Apartheid in Israel, shouldn’t they be open to criticism of Somalia or Palestine? I could argue that the money that flows into people coffers for those countries is far dirtier than an Israeli lobbyist. I find it interesting that we tend to look the other way regarding Muslim Countries in fear of the anti-Muslimism charge or chastising from CAIR. Israel is an easy target, since the vast majority of leftist Jews are against Israel. We forget that the US is surrounded by friendly Nations. Israel can’t say that since it is mostly surrounded by Nations that seek it’s destruction.
Well, she’s has been told that these phrases and terms are demeaning and racist in nature by her Jewish caucus during her 2018 primary. Plus, these are phrases that pure anti-Semitic individuals know about and use.
This is the type of rhetoric that the was being used in Germany and we know how that ended up for the Jewish community.
She and Ms. Tlaib are very anti-Israel, along with many left/progressive Jews-believe it or not. There claim is that they are criticizing Israel and not the people is a misleading and false statement. This is because they never state what policy they are against, but only the “occupation of Palestine”. Which, if you are a history buff for that region-I’ve done my fair share of reading and research (on both sides of the spectrum) there has never been a country or kingdom called Palestine. The name originated from the Roman’s remaining the area to insult the Jews and their country. Later, the Muslims remained it to it’s present “state” or term. There has never been a king, prime minister, leader or currency related to Palestine.
Yet, they claim Israel is an apartheid State, which is the farthest from the truth. Israel isn’t perfect, and they have acknowledge there past mistakes/sins. Yet, they are the only democracy in the area and are surrounded by enemies who’s sole goal is the elimination of a Jewish State/Country. You try being perfect with that at your border.
Israel is the only Country in the region that allows freedom of religion and sexual/gender preference. Muslims can hold political positions and even are judges in Israel.
Ms. Omar knows exactly what she is saying and doing, along with the rest of the left/democrats. Ms. Omar knows how to work the minority card, she even married her brother to become a legal citizen and skirt the immigration issue. Just look at Kamal, Rep. Warren, and good old Bernie coming to her defense stating since she’s of color, she can’t be a racist. BS
But, your in good company David Duke agrees with Ms. Omar and since you don’t have an issue with what she said, you can be proud that you stand with an “ex” KKK member.
P.S. If you don’t have a problem with her tweeting this “Israel has hypnotized the world, may Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel.” (Omar later apologized and deleted the tweet; she claimed ignorance of the anti-Semitic trope that conceives of Jewish hypnosis.)” Then maybe you should ask her or she should ask Allah to awake the people of Somalia to open their eyes to the evil doings in Somalia. This is the main point of people’s criticisms is that she doesn’t criticize Somalia.
@Michael – So it’s only legit for Omar to criticize Israel (and American relations with it) if she also criticizes Somalia? She’s a fierce critic of Saudi Arabia — its government and our foreign policy toward it — as well (though somehow without being automatically labeled an Islamophobe), so does that count? Should she also criticize China, or Russia, or Iran, or any other particular countries first before she criticizes Israel. Do we not criticize an armed robber because there are murderers out there?
And, yes, I’m aware that there hasn’t been an independent realm in the area we call Palestine for many centuries (the last was likely one of the Crusader states, and that hardly counts) — and there hasn’t an independent nation of Israel for a few thousand years, either, for that matter. But there were already people living in that land — mostly Arab, but some Jewish and Christian — all that time, whether their destiny was controlled by empires from the east, west, north, or south. Suggesting that they don’t have any sovereignty or autonomy because they haven’t had it previously is kind of an odd lesson of history for an American to hold.
There is a lot to admire about the state of Israel. It is, as you note, a reasonably functioning democracy, with (for the region) relatively progressive human and civil rights. It is, however, explicitly founded as a Jewish state, and its laws reflect that (including outsized influence from very conservative/orthodox quarters). Certainly it’s been under attack from its neighbors multiple times over the years, and the displaced indigenous Arab population, or portions of it, have resorted to violence and terrorism over the last 50-60 years. (Israel was also founded on terror as well — look up the King David Hotel bombing as an example; one of our parishioners had a relative killed in that attack). There are very few unalloyed good guys or bad guys in this particular conflict.
But the facts remain that the Arab refugees from Israel proper — particularly those on the West Bank (those in Gaza have separate concerns) operate under apartheid conditions — freedom of movement into Israel where the jobs are (in part from Israel’s success, in part because Israel restricts what can be done on the West Bank) is restricted, time-consuming, and capricious; water resources continue to be redirected into Israel. Walled highways and settlements into the West Bank continue to be built, allowed, and even encouraged by the present Israeli government (with the present encouragement of our own). (Here’s map from a decade ago showing how Israel has de facto and de jure carved up the West Bank, even while ostensibly supporting a two-state solution.)
I don’t have any ideas how to ultimately resolve this situation. This still fairly accurately sums up my feelings on the matter. But it certainly will not be solved by a knee-jerk reflex that assumes American support for the government of Israel is absolute, and any criticism of it is anti-Semitic and even un-American.
First, all I asked was why be quite on Somalia? She’s made two criticisms of Saudi Arabia for Yemen and killing the Journalist. In Yemen, I don’t think anyone could have done something to ease that pain and the Journalist-damn right S.A. should be chastised, if not more. But, again, she doesn’t give specifics, but drops very demeaning terms.
Second, Palestine has never been a country and it wasn’t until the UN deemed them as one. Most of those don’t relate to being Palestinian, most were Nomads in the area.
Third, so, if you had a neighbor that was going into your home/yard and was killing your cats/family, etc…you’d have open arms? Israel has been forced, by design, to have to put themselves in their into this situation. The Arabs and Jews lived somewhat in harmony until the Arab-Israeli of 1948. The Palestinians were told to leave because they were told that the Israel would be wiped out. In regards to the King David Hotel bombing, yes, that was done by a radical Jewish Sect that opposed the British and their role in WWII and the treatment of Jews. However, and I believe this is a key fact, the Jewish National Council denounced the bombing.
Well, if you are looking to eliminate any knee-jerking reflexes from the media-right or left-I recommend going off the grid. You get the same knee jerking from the left-see the Covington High School Boys. As long as there is a 24 hour news cycle and the vast majority of journalist getting their next big story from twitter, well, a knee jerking it’s goina’ be my friend. There isn’t any true journalism, not beat writers, no real local reporters like in the past. Those reporters have either been removed or terminated. It’s too easy to troll twitter, look for something, so they can get a quick head line. Sadly, this is the state in which we find ourselves.
But I’d ask you this, where would you want to live in the Middle East if you were a Christian? Possible Egypt?