RJC Response to Rep. Ilhan Omar’s Anti-Israel Remarks

In November 2012, Ilhan Omar tweeted out a comment about Israel’s 2012 self-defense operation against Hamas in Gaza, which had launched over 1000 rockets into Israel over the course of a few days. Omar wrote, “Israel has hypnotized the world, may Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel.” In an interview this week with PBS’s Christiane Amanpour, Omar defended her comment.

RJC Executive Director Matt Brooks responded, saying:

Rep. Ilhan Omar, like Rep. Rashida Tlaib, demonizes Israel, knowing full well that Hamas, the terrorist group that runs Gaza, and the corrupt gang that runs the Palestinian Authority bear the responsibility for the conditions under which so many Palestinians live. The Palestinians suffer because their leaders are committed to a perpetual war with Israel and enriching themselves, without regard for the welfare of their people.

The rulers of Gaza could use the humanitarian aid they receive to build housing, infrastructure, and economic opportunity for their people, but instead Hamas uses it to build terrorism tunnels into Israel and munitions depots inside Palestinian homes and schools. 

The PA could use their humanitarian aid to provide jobs and public services for their people, but instead they line their own pockets and pay salaries to terrorists and the families of terrorists who maim and murder Israeli civilians. 

If Omar, Tlaib and their “allies” in the Democratic Party care about the fate of the Palestinians, they should stop demonizing Israel and pro-Israel Americans and instead help Palestinians fight the corruption, oppression, and violence of Hamas and the PA.