Antisemitism is a hot button issue. A lot of attention is paid by the leftwing media when a Republican says something that could be remotely interpreted as antisemitic. But when prominent Democrats stake out clearly antisemitic and anti-Israel statements, they are largely ignored. It is usually a one-day story with no harsh criticism – and definitely no repercussions.
Even Jewish leaders – and officials of the Anti-Defamation League – who are all over television condemning “right-wing antisemitism” — remain relatively silent when it comes to Democrats. Perhaps that is because those seen on television representing the Jewish community are mostly … left-wing Democrats.
We have seen this double standard in play with the recent resolution introduced by Texas Republican Congressman August Pfluger. It stated that “the State of Israel is not a racist or apartheid state. Congress rejects all forms of antisemitism and xenophobia, and the United States will always be a staunch partner and supporter of Israel.”
Certainly, no good American could possibly find objection of such a resolution affirming America’s longstanding policy regarding Israel. But nooooo. The resolution passed in a bipartisan 412 to 9 vote. Nine Democrats voted against that resolution.
The resolution was prompted by two events – the visit by Israeli President Isaac Herzog and antisemitic, anti-Israel comments by Congresswoman Jayapal, head of the Democrats’ Progressive Caucus. In a speech at a Chicago conference, Jayapal called Israel a racist nation for its treatment of the Palestinians who keep sending rockets into Israel.
She walked back her comments – walk back being something short of a correction or an apology. She said that she did not mean that the state of Israel was racist – only the government policies. That is like saying North Korea is not an authoritarian state, it is just Kim Jong-un’s policies. Jayapal said her comments at the conference were only intended to “defuse a tense situation at the conference” (You just cannot make this stuff up.)
The nine voting against the resolution supporting Israel as a non-racist democracy — and critical ally of the United States were:
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.)
- Rashida Tlaib (Mich.
- Jamaal Bowman (N.Y.)
- Summer Lee (Pa.)
- Ilhan Omar (Minn.)
- Cori Bush (Mo.)
- André Carson (Ind.)
- Delia Ramirez (Ill.)
- Ayanna Pressley (Mass.)
They are mostly aligned to what has become known as “the squad.” If they were Republicans, the left-wing press would be excoriating them on a daily basis – referring to them as a bunch of crazy antisemitic extremists who have taken control of the entire GOP.
You will note the absence of Jayapal from that list. She voted in favor of the resolution, but her explanation was peculiar. She said the resolution was a political trap to get the antisemitic members of Congress to appear to be … antisemitic. She went on to say that the resolution was intended to “target” and “divide” Democrats.
The vote on the resolution was not the only time that these folks expressed their antisemitism and distain for Israel. Rather than being known as “the squad,” a more apt name would be the “Pro-Palestinian Caucus.”
The BDS Movement was an effort to have businesses and governments “boycott, disinvest and sanction” Israel. In other words, to treat Israel the same way we treat Russia, China and Iran. As a subtext, supporters of the anti-Israel BDS Movement claim Israel as guilty of war crimes. They call Israel a “terrorist state.”
Among the members of Congress who have expressed support for the anti-Israel BDS Movement are Rashida Tlaib. Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Pramila Jayapal, Mark Pocan and Cori Bush. Sound familiar?
To understand the depths of their animosity toward Israel, you need take a deeper dive into some of their specific histories.
In 2012, Ilhan Omar tweeted the “Israel has hypnotized the world. May Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel.” In describing the financial contributions of the Jewish community support Israel policy, Omar said, “It is all about the Benjamins, baby” – referring to Benjamin Franklin, whose image is on the $100 bill. In 2021, Omar said she “chuckles” when Israel is called a democracy – claiming it is an apartheid state. Again in 2021, she accused Israel of “terrorism” for attack Hamas positions – ignoring the fact that Hamas constantly attacks Israel and has been declared a terrorist organization.
Omar has accused American Jews of having an “allegiance to a foreign country.” She later claimed that she was not challenging the loyalty of Jews, but the lobbying influence of Jewish organizations such as AIPAC (American Israeli Public Affairs Committee). She seems to draw an impossible distinction between Jewish people and organizations run by …. Jewish people on behalf of Jewish people.
Jayapal accuses the Israeli government of engaging in outright discriminatory and racist policies against the Palestinians. She is one of several antisemitic Democrats who boycotted Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s recent address to Congress. Others include Senator Bernie Sanders and Democrat Representatives Omar, Ocasio-Cortez, Tlaib, Bush and Bowman.
Even after the vote on the resolution, Tlaib called Israel an apartheid state. In 2018, Ocasio-Cortez referred to the deaths of Palestinians as a “massacre” and a “human rights violation.” She has repeatedly called Israel an apartheid state – and has consistently voted to cut off military aid to Israel.
They are a small group of Democrats in Congress who consistently express antisemitic and/or anti-Israeli views. They use their congressional offices to articulate such polices – and to vote against Israeli and Jewish public policy positions. And yet there is little outrage among the majority of Democrats or the media that supports them. When what the members of this group say or do becomes sufficiently outrageous — and in defiance of America’s interests — there may be a one-day story, but never any consequences. Antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment is imbedded in the Democratic Party. We should all be concerned.
So, there ‘tis.