Omar says she doesn't regret past comments on Israel

[question everything]

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) on Tuesday said she does not regret her previous comments about Israel, which attracted widespread criticism across the ideological spectrum, with some accusing her of antisemitism.

Earlier this month, Omar in a tweet wrote, “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. I asked @SecBlinken where people are supposed to go for justice.” Days later, she made efforts to clarify her remarks, saying she was not equating the U.S. and Israel with terrorist organizations.

“On Monday, I asked Secretary of State Antony Blinken about … ongoing International Criminal Court investigations. To be clear: the conversation was about accountability for specific incidents regarding those ICC cases, not a moral comparison between Hamas and the Taliban and the U.S. and Israel,” Omar, said in a statement. When asked during an interview on CNN’s “The Lead with Jake Tapper” if she regrets making these comments, Omar responded without hesitation, telling host Jake Tapper, “I don’t,” before arguing that the U.S. should “continue to find ways in which people can find justice around the world.”

(snip)

When pressed by Tapper on what she would say to her fellow House Democrats who have called some of her previous remarks antisemitic, Omar said she has apologized and clarified her remarks when she felt that her words offended others, before accusing her colleagues of saying Islamophobic tropes.

(snip)

The congresswoman also said “it's really important for these members to realize that they haven't been partners in justice, they haven't been, you know, equally engaging in seeking justice around the world.”

More..

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/560856-omar-says-she-doesnt-regret-past-comments-on-israel

[ColinC]

1. Good. She shouldn't.

[question everything]

2. Just as she did not condemn that Armenian genocide

[JohnSJ]

4. Exactly. Selective outrage

[ck4829]

10. Yep, the selective outrage of her "critics" is showing more and more

[JohnSJ]

12. She is the one who has the problem with a certain demographic

[wellst0nev0ter]

22. She does condemn the armenian genocide

She just refuses to play empty games of political convenience with a tragedy

Link to tweet

[JohnSJ]

23. Bull. A pattern of convenient excuses. She knows exactly what she says and does

[wellst0nev0ter]

24. But you can't say she didn't condemn the genocide

[JohnSJ]

25. Sure I can. That was the first time Congress recognized the Armenian Genocide, and she didn't want

to be part of that when it counted

However, she does not regret comparing the United States to the Taliban and Hamas

[wellst0nev0ter]

26. No, that would be a lie

Say she didn't vote for a resolution, but don't say she doesn't recognize and condemn the Armenian genocide.

Link to tweet

[NurseJackie]

3. Lord.

[Crunchy Frog]

5. I agree with her. Glad she didn't back down.

[ck4829]

6. Awesome sauce.

[JohnSJ]

7. and I don't regret my past comments about her either

[Bettie]

8. Is there a requirement that no one criticize

the government of Israel?

They have done many things worthy of criticism.

Or is it just that as a Muslim, she's not allowed to say anything against the government of Israel?

[Xavier Breath]

11. A little from column A and a little from column B, I'd venture.

n/t

[question everything]

13. Please! Why not find out before you post such a.... statement?

She compared the government of Israel and our government - the one that welcomed her with open arms and provided the opportunity to be a member of Congress - with the Taliban and Hamas.

Unless, of course, you consider these last two organizations as a model of democracy and tolerance.

[Bettie]

14. She stated that victims of war crimes, regardless of who

committed them (and yes, the US has done some terrible things, as most governments have) be treated the same.

She did not say they were the same in other respects, but the point was that none of their hands are clean.

But, hey, if you think that the US and Israel alone are utterly pristine and perfect, never having harmed innocents, well, you just go with that.

Seems a lot of people are angry that she dares to exist.

[question everything]

15. Every single country in the world has mistreated people at some point of their existence

But selecting Israel and the U.S. creates headlines and accolades among leftists. And adding Hamas and the Taliban can really make the whole purpose of the statement wrapped in a red flag.

I wish that reporters stop interviewing her. It is just an opportunity for her to create headlines to remind many here that, yes, she exists.

And just for your, and others, info:

Before her first primaries she participated in a debate in a Minneapolis synagogue, no less. There she said she no longer supported BDS against Israel. After winning her primaries, no doubt with the support of the active local Jewish community, she did an SNL Emily Litella - never mind...

[ChubbyStar]

16. You want reporters to stop covering her so why are you posting about her?

[ck4829]

18. Have to get in the Two Minutes Hate I guess

[Midnight Writer]

9. If I criticize the way Saudi Arabia treats women, am I anti-Muslim?

[ck4829]

17. I'm sure they want to attack her over that too

https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-omar-introduces-mbs-mbs-act-sanction-saudi-arabian-crown-prince-mohammed

[ecstatic]

19. We all have criticized or have talked trash about various countries

Especially Russia. I think criticizing governments, including our own, is completely fair. I've said some really nasty things about my own country in the wake of TFG, and unfortunately, a lot of it is true. Just remember to not conflate the citizens of a country with the leaders. Half the time we don't even do that when it comes to Russia.

[ck4829]

20. Well, you see...

It’s one thing to talk trash about nations.

But it’s apparently another thing to talk trash about nations when you are Ilhan Omar.

[jcmaine72]

21. "We must have the same level of accountability & justice for all victims of crimes against humanity"

OMG!! Only a hate-drenched monster would state such a thing!