JEWISH DEMOCRATS BACK ILHAN OMAR AS CRITICS FRET

Jewish lawmakers and progressive activists praise Ilhan Omar's call for solidarity between the Jewish and Black communities, a day after she said those who criticize her over Israel “haven't been partners in justice,” Ben Samuels reported for Haaretz on July 2, 2021.

Jewish lawmakers and leaders of mainstream Jewish organizations have quickly supported Rep. Ilhan Omar’s call for solidarity between the Black and Jewish communities, as well as her acknowledgment that many of her colleagues – both Jewish and non-Jewish – deeply share her commitment to fighting injustice, the Associated Press (AP) also reported.

After saying her Jewish critics in Democratic Party were not “partners in justice,” Omar issues a conciliatory statement on Twitter, Allison Kaplan Sommer reported.

Minnesota congresswoman Ilhan Omar attempted to calm the flames on Wednesday after her statement that Jewish Democratic congressional colleagues who have criticized her haven't been "partners in justice” sparked backlash from across the political spectrum.

"I am someone who has survived war and experienced injustice firsthand, who is alive today because I was welcomed into this country as a refugee," Omar said, adding: "I know that many of my colleagues – both Jewish and non-Jewish – deeply share that commitment to fighting injustice."

Omar was responding to the backlash that followed her interview with Jake Tapper on CNN earlier on Wednesday. In the interview, the Minnesota congresswoman was asked about statements she had made which had been labeled antisemitic.

“In 2019, you said lawmakers support Israel because it’s “all about the Benjamins,” which implies that politicians only support Israel because of money,” Tapper said.

“There was a tweet from 2012 when you said Israel had hypnotized the world. Do you understand why some of your fellow House Democrats, especially Jews, find that language anti-Semitic?” Omar replied that she had “welcomed any time my colleagues have asked to have a conversation to learn from them, for them to learn from me.”

She added: "I think it's really important for these [House] members to realize that they haven't been partners in justice. They haven't been equally engaging in seeking justice around the world and I think I will continue to do that. It is important for me as someone who knows what it feels like to experience injustice in ways that many of my colleagues don't – to be a voice in finding accountability."

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