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Ilhan Omar on Foreign Policy |
Case in point was my response in 2019 [about] my views on Israel policy. "It's all about the Benjamins baby," I tweeted in a reply, using a Puff Daddy lyric to comment on the power of moneyed influence in our country--in this particular case, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) on our foreign policy in Israel.
I immediately started hearing from friends and colleagues who explained the threat as offensive. As soon as I understood the history, I quickly apologized for using what I learned was an age old offensive anti-Semitic trope about Jewish people and their love of money.
I want the ability to be heard and have my full humanity recognized. In return I do everything I can to make sure that is true for others too.
I asserted that the founding of Israel was "built on the Jewish people's connection to their historical homeland, as well as the urgency of establishing a nation in the wake of the horror of the Holocaust and the centuries of Anti-Semitic oppression leading up to it." But I added, "We must acknowledge that this is also the historical homeland of the Palestinians. And without a state, the Palestinian people live in a permanent refugeehood and displacement." In conclusion, I wrote, "A balanced inclusive approach to the conflict recognizes shared desires for security and freedom of both peoples."
OMAR: For many of us in Congress there has been a longstanding support for its two-state solution and this annexation now is going to make sure that that peace process does not happen. And we will not get to a two-state solution. You have to give people the opportunity to seek the kind of justice they want in a peaceful way. And I think the opportunity to boycott divest sanction is the kind of pressure that leads to that peaceful process.
Omar "unequivocally" apologized. "Anti-Semitism is real and I am grateful for Jewish allies and colleagues who are educating me on the painful history of anti-Semitic tropes. At the same time, I reaffirm the problematic role of lobbyists in our politics, whether it be AIPAC, the NRA, or the fossil fuel industry. It's gone on too long and we must be willing to stop it."
Lewis's comments are similar to a comment from Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar last February about Israel's political influence in Washington. Omar, a Democrat, faced widespread condemnation for what critics on both sides of the aisle described as playing on anti-Semitic tropes. Omar apologized, but the controversy prompted a U.S. House resolution condemning bigotry.
Lewis was a longtime Minnesota radio talk show host before 2016. Lewis said his radio job "meant asking rhetorical questions, challenging audiences, playing devil's advocate and seeing both sides of every issue." His campaign manager said Lewis's House voting record showed strong support for the U.S.-Israel relationship.
Project Vote Smart inferred whether candidates agree or disagree with the statement, 'National Security: Should the United States use military force in order to prevent governments hostile to the U.S. from possessing a nuclear weapon?' PVS self-description: "The Political Courage Test provides voters with positions on key issues. Historically, candidates have failed to complete our test due to the advice they receive from their advisors and out of fear of negative attack ads."
Legislative summary: The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act:
Statement in support by Sen. Cruz: Sen. Ted Cruz joined Sen. Marco Rubio in introducing H.R.6210 to hold the Chinese Communist Party accountable for the use of force labor. "The Chinese Communist Party has transformed Xinjiang into a technological dystopia and a human rights horror," Sen. Cruz said. "Time and time again from the CCP we see the complete and total disregard for human life and values.."
Statement in opposition in Washington Post: Researchers estimate the Chinese government has placed more than 1 million people into internment camps in Xinjiang. While US law already prevents companies from importing goods that were made using forced labor, the law is seldom enforced. Apple is heavily dependent on Chinese manufacturing; alleged forced Uighur labor has been used in Apple's supply chain. A report from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute alleged four instances in which labor from the Xinjiang region has been connected to Apple's supply chain: In 2017, the Chinese government transferred between 1,000 and 2,000 Uighurs to work at a factory owned by O-Film, which helps make selfie cameras for Apple's iPhone.
Legislative outcome: Passed House 406 3-22,(2/3 required) Roll no. 196 on 09/22/2020.