Question. Does being anti-Israeli = anti-Semite?
If yes, does that mean being anti-USA = anti-Christian? Or anti-Iran=anti-Muslim?
Can someone be critical of political policy without being condemned as some form of bigot or traitor?
When groups want to shut down debate they often silence those by using inflammatory language.
McCarthyism is an example. Society cannot be critical of political ideals without the threat of ostracism or silence. Both sides are guilty. The result is a muzzle on the more moderate minds that may lead to acceptable action.
What's going on with Omar (and we're setting aside Rashida Tlaib) is a little different. She isn't just criticizing Israel (and people who support Israel), she's singling out Israel for special criticism, much of which is borrowed from anti-Semitic tropes about Jews having an occult influence over the world. And she just keeps doing it.
Here are a few of her classics:
- Israel “hypnotized the world," because the Jewish state has special power to control public opinion
- She said the only reason people in Congress support Israel is Jewish money- "the Benjamins" (Yes, it's from a rap song, but maybe you don't talk about "Benjamins" if you want people to think you're not being anti-Semitic)
- She criticized supporters of Israel for having “allegiance to a foreign power,” which is an old anti-Semitic trope
“I want to talk about the political influence in this country that says it is okay to push for allegiance to a foreign country.”
Nita Lowey, a Jewish Democrat, urged her to retract her comments. Here's what Omar responded: “I should not be expected to have allegiance/pledge support to a foreign country in order to serve my country in Congress or serve on a committee.”
- To defend herself from criticism of other comments, she said this:
"a lot of our Jewish colleagues, a lot of our constituents, a lot of our allies got to thinking that everything we say about Israel to be anti-Semitic because we are Muslim."
- She supports the BDS movement
The defenses of her have ranged from, "she doesn't know what she's saying" to "she's from a different culture," to something like the "she's a victim" defense. Even if you think she's innocently saying the things that anti-Semites typically say, she isn't receiving nearly the normal scrutiny she would have if she weren't in the position/of the identity she is.
