WASHINGTON (AP) — Back in January, the Democrats welcomed their brash young newcomers to Congress with smiles and hugs. That was before the new colleagues dragged the party's simmering divisions over Israel out in the open.
Provocative comments from Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota have thrust the Democrats into an uncomfortable debate over Israel policy a few weeks before a high-profile conference at which senior Democrats typically make a show of support for the Jewish state. Increasingly, the rift appears as much generational as ideological, with newly elected Democrats showing less deference to the party line.
"Accusations of dual loyalty generally have an insidious, bigoted history," an early draft of the resolution reads in part."The House of Representatives acknowledges the dangerous consequences of perpetuating anti-Semitic stereotypes and rejects anti-Semitism as hateful expressions of intolerance that are contradictory to the values that define the people of the United States."
In a poll by the Pew Research Center in January of last year, 46 percent of Americans said they sympathized more with Israel and 16 percent with the Palestinians in their Middle East discord. Democrats in Congress remain largely supportive of Israel. Pelosi, for example, often attends the American Israel Public Affairs Committee conference in Washington, which is coming up this month.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Analysis | Democrats’ criticism of Ilhan Omar suggests little room for diversity on IsraelAnalysis: Democrats’ criticism of Ilhan Omar suggests little room for diversity on Israel
Read more »
Trump calls controversial Omar comments 'a dark day for Israel'The president piled onto the Minnesota freshman ahead of her second formal rebuke by the House in recent weeks.
Read more »
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticizes Democratic lawmaker amid Ilhan Omar Israel controversyHistory shows that making some questions 'unacceptable' is a mistake, Ocasio-Cortez wrote on Twitter.
Read more »
Engel slams Omar for saying pro-Israel groups push foreign allegianceThe chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee called Friday for freshman Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar to apologize after insinuating that pro-Israel groups are pushing 'allegiance to a foreign country.'
Read more »
House Foreign Affairs chairman says he won't push Omar off committeeThe chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee said Tuesday that he does not want Rep. Ilhan Omar removed from her seat on the committee for making comments about pro-Israel groups that several lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have called anti-Semitic.
Read more »
House Democrats to call for vote on condemning 'anti-Semitic' Ilhan Omar commentsOmar suggested that the pro-Israel lobby pushes lawmakers to show 'allegiance to a foreign country' and said the charge of anti-Semitism is 'designed to end the debate' about Israel's treatment of Palestinians.
Read more »
Alexandria-Ocasio Cortez defends Ilhan Omar, asks where resolutions are condemning homophobia, racism and xenophobiaOmar, a freshman congresswoman, has been feuding with fellow Democrats over their support of Israel and her alleged anti-Semitic comments.
Read more »
Top Foreign Affairs Dem rebukes Ilhan Omar for ‘vile anti-Semitic slur’Ilhan Omar was criticized after suggesting that pro-Israel activists and lawmakers hold “allegiance to a foreign country”
Read more »
Ocasio-Cortez calls condemnation of Omar ‘hurtful’Rep. Ocasio-Cortez questions criticisms of her freshman colleague, Rep. Illhan Omar, for controversial remarks about Israel, asking why other kinds of offensive speech are not treated in the same way.
Read more »