U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar has come under bipartisan fire again for asking simple questions about Israel’s lack of accountability for the crimes it commits against the people of Palestine.
The Muslim congresswoman on Thursday posted a video of a recebt House Foreign Affairs Committee session, where she spoke about the need to hold Tel Aviv accountable.
“We must have the same level of accountability and justice for all victims of crimes against humanity. We have seen unthinkable atrocities committed by the U.S., Hamas, Israel, Afghanistan, and the Taliban,” she said in the clip.
Omar made the remarks in reponse to State Secretary Anthony Blinken’s opposition to making a case at the International Criminal Court against Israel and its recent atrocities in Gaza.
The remarks were condemned by the Democratic House leadership, who in a rare statement accused Omar of making a false equivalence.
Some Jewish lawmakers were quick to reject the statements as offensive while, as expected, the Republican side of the aisle used the opportunity to attack the left and express its unconditional support for Israel.
Beth Miller, government affairs manager for Jewish Voice for Peace Action, told Newsweek that it’s “an undeniable fact that the US and Israel have committed unspeakable atrocities, the victims of which are still awaiting justice.”
She said Omar’s critics “are employing racist and Islamophobic tropes to attack” the Minnesota representative “for demanding answers from our Secretary of State.”
