Sanders, Harris condemn House rebuke of Omar

Two major Democratic presidential candidates on Wednesday condemned House Democrats’ move to rebuke Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) after comments she made about Israel.

In separate statements, Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), who are both running for the Democratic nomination, condemned anti-Semitism but advocated for more discussion surrounding the United States’ policy with Israel.

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“Anti-Semitism is a hateful and dangerous ideology which must be vigorously opposed in the United States and around the world,” Sanders, who is Jewish, said in a statement. “We must not, however, equate anti-Semitism with legitimate criticism of the right-wing, Netanyahu government in Israel.”

Harris also said that there was a “responsibility to speak out against anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, homophobia, transphobia, racism, and all forms of hatred and bigotry, especially as we see a spike in hate crimes in America.”

“But like some of my colleagues in the Congressional Black Caucus, I am concerned that the spotlight being put on Congresswoman Omar may put her at risk,” Harris continued. “We should be having a sound, respectful discussion about policy.”

Sanders, who in the past has advocated for a balanced policy on Israel and Palestinians, went on to say that an “even-handed Middle East policy which brings Israelis and Palestinians together for a lasting peace” must be developed.

“What I fear is going on in the House now is an effort to target Congresswoman Omar as a way of stifling that debate,” the senator concluded. “That’s wrong.”

Harris said she believes that “you can both support Israel and be loyal to our country,” and that there is a difference between criticizing U.S. policy and being anti-Semitic.

“I also believe there is a difference between criticism of policy or political leaders, and anti-Semitism,” Harris said. “At the end of the day, we need a two-state solution and a commitment to peace, human rights, and democracy by all leaders in the region — and a commitment by our country to help achieve that.”

The comments come after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, along with other top Democrats, were going to vote Wednesday on a resolution condemning anti-Semitism, but not specifically mentioning Omar. The vote was postponed, and the House Foreign Affairs Committee is currently rewriting the measure to include multiple types of hate speech.

Controversy has surrounded Omar’s comments on Israel over the past couple of weeks. Most recently, the congresswoman suggested that that pro-Israel advocates had “allegiance” to Israel, a sentiment that several top Democrats found offensive because of stereotypes that Jews have “dual loyalties.”

Republicans have called on Omar to be removed from the Foreign Affairs Committee following her comments.

During a closed-door meeting of the Democratic Caucus on Wednesday, several Jewish lawmakers talked about why Omar’s latest remarks were so offensive and potentially dangerous. Other Democrats, including a Jewish lawmaker, defended Omar.

Omar, one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress in 2018, has began to apologize to some of her Jewish colleagues and has issued an apology in the past for previous statements.