Omar introduces resolution defending boycott of Israel, likens it to boycotts of Nazi Germany, Soviet Union
U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar proposed a resolution this week supporting the right to boycott Israel, likening the boycott of the Jewish state to boycotts of Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union.
Omar’s resolution seeks to push back against U.S. laws banning the boycott of Israel and affirms the right of Americans to organize boycotts of foreign countries if they so wish.
While the resolution doesn’t explicitly name Israel or the pro-Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, she told media outlets that the resolution concerns the Jewish state.
“We are introducing a resolution … to really speak about the American values that support and believe in our ability to exercise our First Amendment rights in regard to boycotting,” Omar told Al-Monitor .
“And it is an opportunity for us to explain why it is we support a nonviolent movement, which is the BDS movement,” she added.
The resolution attracted some Republican detractors, with Rep. Lee Zeldin slamming Omar for introducing it, saying she brought “her hateful twist” by propping up the BDS movement.
“Israel is our best ally in the Mid East; a beacon of hope, freedom & liberty, surrounded by existential threats,” Zeldin wrote in a tweet. “Shame on Rep Omar for bringing her hateful twist on that reality to House Foreign today, propping up the BDS movement & blaming Israel for all of its challenges.”
The resolution affirms the right to boycott as an expression of free speech and cites examples of boycott movements against Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union, and apartheid South Africa.
“Americans of conscience have a proud history of participating in boycotts to advocate for human rights abroad including ... boycotting Nazi Germany from March 1933 to October 1941 in response to the dehumanization of the Jewish people in the lead-up to the Holocaust,” Omar said in the resolution introduced Tuesday.
Omar’s measure will be co-sponsored by U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., the first female Palestinian-American lawmaker in Congress who openly supports a one-state solution in the Israeli-Palestine conflict, and U.S. Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga.
But the resolution will likely lead to yet another clash with her fellow Democrats who are mulling a resolution condemning the boycott movement.
The House Foreign Affairs Committee passed Wednesday a resolution that accuses the BDS movement of promoting “principles of collective guilt, mass punishment and group isolation,” the Times of Israel reported.
It remains unclear if the resolution will be introduced to the whole Congress next week amid fears over intra-party clashes.
“I think the timing would not be very wise to take up additional measures around the Middle East,” Rep. Mark Pocan told Politico . “Donald Trump just brought us all together, so let’s take advantage of that.”
Wonder what happened to the Congress folks who were elected to govern and support the U.S.?? This new group of Freshman - I just don't know where their actual loyalties are.
Be careful here...you will be labeled a racist for questioning this woman of color.
I understand she and Talib are planning a trip to Israel. Will they allow them entry into their country?
I wouldn't but that is exactly what they probably want.
Which is why she proposed the resolution first. She wants to be a 'victim'.
BDS supporters have been sporadically disallowed, but Omar and Tlieb have done this to challenge Netanyahu, and if he refuses them, because they are American Congresswomen, he is smart enough to know they are trying to start an international incident. I believe he won't stop them. In fact perhaps he will invite them to tour Yad Vashem, and the medical facilities where Israeli doctors provide free heart operations for Palestinian children.
Either way I will LMAO when Netenyahu says not only no, But HELL NO!
Excellent, insightful comment! Omar and her anti-American/anti-semitic/anti-Israel Squad are playing the pre-school Candyland board game while Netanyahu and other Free World leaders are playing 3-D chess.
I cannot pray enough that this hateful, racist, vindictive witch will get thrown out on the next election along with the other three "Horsewomen", and that she just vanishes back into the mediocrity she came from...
She's trying to make this sound make this sound like an "individual" 1st amendment right when what it really would do would be to make it illegal for any "company" to do business with Israel in any way.
This will fail miserably and she knows it so one wonders what her endgame is. Maybe she knows her time in congress is limited and simply wants to get her antisemitic bile out there front and center. Who knows.
Her comparisons of boycotts on Germany and the USSR back in the day are almost childlike in their naivete.
whenever fools drag Nazis and Hitler into a debate, you know they have no real point and are really just trolling.
A corollary of Godwins Law.
We can call this Omars Law.
"Comparing anything to Nazi Germany in an attempt to support a particular narrative"
Pretty much the sheer height of desperation I'd say.
Resolutions don't create law Sparty. A Resolution can't make anything legal or illegal. Sheesh, hyperbolic much?
Are you pretending that you actually READ the resolution BF?
I take that as a yes.
Your claim that I am deflecting is a deflection.
It's great that Omar was elected by her "Constituents to the "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA's" congress.
Would hate to see what she would be like if she was elected into office anywhere else (Duck).
I can't believe I'm living through it.
This is just another sortie in the great religious wars. Omar doesn't like Israel because Israel hates Palestinians. Palestinians are mostly Muslims. American Christians support Israel because they hate Muslims more than they hate jews and the jews are killing Muslims which is good for Christians although there are lots of Christians who hate Jews also. Am I making sense so far? No? It doesn't make sense to me either. They are ALL a bunch of haters and killers. As a proud atheist I don't have a horse in this race. The whole mess is a bunch of superstitious nonsense. They are all idiots.
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