After being called out in the New York Times for anti-Semitic views on Israel, Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., responded by expressed regret over a 2012 tweet that claimed “Israel has hypnotized the world” while doing “evil.”
But the Somalia refugee who became one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress in November is also offended she has to expend so much energy putting her remarks in context instead of “disavowing the anti-semitic trope I unknowingly used.”
Omar responded on Twitter to a column from Times opinion writer Bari Weiss, who was critical of the newly-elected Democrat just seated on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Her defense is she didn’t know Jews would be offended by being called “evil” people who have “hypnotized the world.”
“I don’t know how my comments would be offensive to Jewish Americans,” Omar said in a recent CNN interview.
This sentiment was repeated in her reply to Weiss.
“Hi @bariweiss, You are correct when you say, “Perhaps Ms. Omar is sincerely befuddled and not simply deflecting” In all sincerity, it was after my CNN interview that I heard from Jewish orgs. that my use of the word “Hypnotize” and the ugly sentiment it holds was offensive,” Omar tweeted.
Hi @bariweiss,
You are correct when you say,
“Perhaps Ms. Omar is sincerely befuddled and not simply deflecting”
In all sincerity, it was after my CNN interview that I heard from Jewish orgs. that my use of the word “Hypnotize” and the ugly sentiment it holds was offensive. pic.twitter.com/IxPScaSzGw
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) January 22, 2019
In a series of tweets, Omar argued her smear of Israel was not really anti-Semitic because she was commenting on the country’s military action in the Gaza War and not “a particular people of faith.”
(Approximately 75% of the Israeli population is Jewish and the country’s seen as a Jewish state in political circles.)
“That statement came in the context of the Gaza War. It’s now apparent to me that I spent lots of energy putting my 2012 tweet in context and little energy is disavowing the anti-semitic trope I unknowingly used, which is unfortunate and offensive,” she wrote.
“With that said, it is important to distinguish between criticizing a military action by a government and attacking a particular people of faith,” Omar added. “I will not shy away of criticism of any government when I see injustice —whether it be Saudi Arabia, Somalia, even our own government!”
With that said, it is important to distinguish between criticizing a military action by a government and attacking a particular people of faith.
I will not shy away of criticism of any government when I see injustice —whether it be Saudi Arabia, Somalia, even our own government!
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) January 22, 2019
The freshman lawmaker went on to say that as a survivor of war, she’ll always fight oppression, no matter who the victims are.
It is important that when you see oppression taking place – when you see our values being attacked as humans – you stand up, and it doesn't matter who the inhabitors of that particular region might be.
Whether it is your father, your brother or your sister, you speak up.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) January 22, 2019
With no clear apology uttered for her remarks about Israel, she concluded by painting herself as the real victim here, making quite the error in her final words.
There are many narratives of who and what I am, designed to demonize and vilify me.
It’s being building since my early days as an organizer. A concussion didn’t deter me and smears certainly won’t . I fought for my seat at the table & will use it to fight a more peaceful world!
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) January 22, 2019
As a social media user noted: “Freudian slip? ‘To fight a more peaceful world?'”
Freudian slip? “To fight a more peaceful world”?
— Sam Beningo (@SyBeningo) January 23, 2019
Unfortunately for Omar, a follower doused her effort at rehabilitation in a single tweet: “Zionists have indeed hypnotized Western media and politicians. It is the perfect word to describe their propaganda.”
Dear Congresswoman,
I am a transgender Palestinian American from a refugee family. I reported in English on Zionist oppression of Palestinians from 2001-2018. Zionists have indeed hypnotized Western media and politicians. It is the perfect word to describe their propaganda.
— Alexandra Whitney (@iskandrah) January 22, 2019
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The longest-tenured writer at BizPac Review, Tom grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills.
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