Ilhan Omar, who criticizes Israel in the US, decided to be expelled from the parliamentary committee

In the vote carried out in the House of Representatives, the lower house of Congress, where the Republicans are in the majority, it was decided to remove the representative of Minnesota Omar from the Foreign Relations Committee with 218 “yes” votes against 211 “no” votes. .

Republicans voted to remove Omar from the Foreign Relations Committee, who criticized some of Israel’s policies for “making anti-Semitic remarks.”

OMAR: I WILL KEEP TALKING

In his pre-vote speech, Omar claimed that Republicans approached people of different skin colors in certain parts of the world and Muslims as “the usual suspects,” citing as an example that the country’s first black president, Barack Obama, was accused of being a “secret Muslim.”

“Is anyone surprised that I’m a target? Is anyone surprised that I am somehow not considered worthy to speak on American foreign policy? Omar emphasized that he did not come to Congress to remain silent and that he will continue to speak for those who seek justice in the world, even if he is not on the committee.

MEPs DEFENDED OMAR

Before the vote, Democratic and Republican lawmakers also expressed their views on Omar’s role on the Foreign Relations Committee.

While Republican lawmakers claimed that Omar held “anti-Semitic” and furthermore “anti-American” views, Democratic Rep. Dean Philips, himself Jewish, opposed these accusations and defended Omar.

Philips said it would be hypocritical to remove Omar from the relevant committee, even though they have different views with him on many issues.

Citing the views of Republicans, Philips said Omar did not spread conspiracy theories such as “if a plane really did crash into the Pentagon on 9/11, space lasers funded by the Jewish Rothshild family were the cause of the California wildfires.” and “as a Republican lawmaker did.” He noted that he did not post video showing members of Congress being beheaded and killed.

“If you’re really sincere about beating anti-Semitism in America, how about you ask us?” Philips said. he used the phrase.

DEMOCRATS ACCEPT REPUBLICS TO BE HYPORACIOUS

Another Jewish parliamentarian, Jan Schakowsky, said: “As a Jew, I don’t need you to defend me.” He noted that Omar, a Muslim American woman, is the sole member of the Foreign Relations Committee of the “world’s third largest religion, Islam.”

Black Democratic MP Gregory Meeks, on the other hand, defended the view that Omar could not be accused of “anti-Semitism” if it had been someone else.

In this context, Meeks, current Speaker of the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, shared on his social networks in 2019: “We cannot allow Soros, Steyer and Bloomberg to buy this election. Come out and vote Republican on November 6.” cited as an example.

Rashida Tlaib, a Muslim member of the House of Representatives, also said she could not control her tears, arguing that Republicans are doing everything they can to increase hatred against a Muslim woman. “Where are the fighters for freedom of expression today? The hypocrisy here is pretty obvious.” he said.

WHITE HOUSE STATEMENT

On the other hand, the White House affirmed that the expulsion of the Muslim deputy Ilhan Omar from the parliamentary committee was a “political demonstration” and that it harmed the American people.

THE accusations against OMAR

Criticizing many of Israel’s policies toward Palestine, Omar’s 2021 statement that the pro-Israel American-Israel Public Relations Committee (AIPAC) paid American politicians to support Israel caused controversy.

After some Democrats, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, called the comments “anti-Semitic,” Omar apologized, saying he “did not mean to offend American Jews.”

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy removed Democratic congressmen Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell from the House Intelligence Committee on January 25. McCarthy and Republican lawmakers had argued for some time that Omar should also be removed from his seat on the Foreign Relations Committee.

Omar denies the charges against him, arguing that McCarthy and his supporters are acting for political reasons.

The leader of the Democrats in the House of Representatives, Hakeem Jeffries, pointed out that some of the “extremist” members of the Republican members used anti-Semitic expressions and called the decision to remove Omar “hypocrisy”.

In 2021, the Democrats also fired Republican lawmaker Marjorie Taylor Greene, known for her strong support of former US President Donald Trump, from House committee positions for “spreading racist rhetoric” and “theories of conspiracy”.

Democrats argue that the Republicans took these steps because they wanted “revenge.” (AA)