Opinion: The Ilhan Omar controversy is a self-inflicted wound, JRubinBlogger writes
By Jennifer Rubin Jennifer Rubin Opinion writer covering politics and policy, foreign and domestic Email Bio Follow Opinion writer March 7 at 10:00 AM The Post reports:
Omar suggested last week that Israel’s supporters have an “allegiance to a foreign country,” remarks that angered some Democrats who saw them as hateful tropes and pushed to condemn the freshman lawmaker. Her defenders argued that leadership was applying a double standard in singling out one of the two Muslim women in Congress.
Let’s be clear. Omar did accuse Jews of dual loyalty, a common anti-Semitic trope, and also said the Israel lobby was too powerful. As to the second remark, it is not clear who is too powerful in Omar’s eyes. If she thinks the “Israel lobby” constitutes American Jews who act out of loyalty to a foreign country, she is simply doubling down on the anti-Semitism.
Criticism of Israel — or any country — is certainly legitimate. It’s perfectly acceptable to ask whether the Trump administration’s policies toward Israel — or again, any country — are appropriate. Questioning whether the pro-Israel lobby is “too powerful” can be, but isn’t necessarily, indicative of another anti-Semitic myth about all-powerful Jews. But mostly, it’s hugely wrong. Factually.
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