We have a real problem in this country when it comes to commenting negatively about Israel. Recently, Representative Ilhan Omar has come under intense criticism for her statements.
Her main target and the statement that got the most criticism dealt with the power of AIPAC. While the way she phrased her comment, talking about promoting allegiance to a foreign country, was not accurate and unfortunate, her basic point about AIPAC and its power is well-taken.
There is a difference between being anti-semitic and being against a particular government of Israel. The latter has nothing inherently anti-Jewish about it.
I say this as a Jew who while very supportive of the existence of Israel has been very critical of Israeli governments and policies regarding Palestinians for decades. The current Israeli government has at times even called American Jews like myself anti-semitic because it’s an easy way to counter criticism.
It is unfortunate that some American supporters of Israel also invoke the anti-semitism label whenever someone criticizes the Israeli government, especially if someone is a Muslim. Would they call someone anti-American if they criticize the policies of President Trump?
That said, once Rep. Omar was called on the fact that support, even strong support, for Israel by an American does not mean allegiance to Israel, she has refused to back down from her characterization of such support. That is a mistake and shows a lack of maturity, not anti-semitism.
She may feel that such support is not in the best interests of the United States, and I would agree. But reasonable people can disagree on what is in the best interests of our country. I have no question that those who support Israel feel that is in the best interests of our country. And that is the proper question. The issue of allegiance is a red herring.
Likewise, Republicans calling her anti-American because of her lack of support for Israel is nonsense. Actually both her accusing supporters of Israel as having allegiance to Israel, and Republicans calling her anti-American because of her lack of support smacks of McCarthyism. Questioning people’s loyalty to country is going down a very dark road.
Representative Omar may well be an anti-semite. But that cannot be gleaned from the statements she has made.
