Criticism of the Israeli government and criticism of Israel are two entirely different expressions.
One connotes disagreement over the implementation of policy, while the other suggests something deeper and potentially far more sinister.
With the recent elections of Reps. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., and Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., to Congress, their comments with respect to where they stand on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement have been catapulted to the spotlight. Both of their elections were historic, as they became the first Muslim women elected to Congress. Yet, their inability to not only clarify their comments but also not apologize for them is deeply troubling.
Both congresswomen made incendiary remarks about Israel that dredge up some of the oldest anti-Semitic tropes. In 2012, Omar wrote on Twitter that “Israel has hypnotized the world.”
Israel has hypnotized the world, may Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel. #Gaza #Palestine #Israel
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) November 16, 2012
Omar’s tweet, of course, focuses on the anti-Semitic line of thinking that Jews are conspiring to “take over the world.” It has been used since the early 20th century, including in many Nazi German cartoons in the late 1930s that contributed to the change of perception among the public that eventually led to the Holocaust.
During the 2018 campaign, Omar was not supportive of the BDS movement. But as soon as the election ended, she announced her support to the publication MuslimGirl. BDS has long been accused of promoting an anti-Semitic agenda (i.e. the one-state solution, right of return, etc.) that would end the concept of a Jewish state.
This week, Tlaib, in an effort to be critical of legislation not related to passing a continuing resolution that would end the partial government shutdown, was accused of anti-Semitism for suggesting that Jews have dual loyalties.
They forgot what country they represent. This is the U.S. where boycotting is a right & part of our historical fight for freedom & equality. Maybe a refresher on our U.S. Constitution is in order, then get back to opening up our government instead of taking our rights away. https://t.co/KkmqjR58ZM
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) January 7, 2019
To her credit, Tlaib later clarified saying she was accusing senators, not Jews, of having dual loyalties. However, Tlaib’s clarification can be considered anti-Semitic, since it again suggests that the state of Israel (and, by extension, Jews) is conspiring to control the world and, in particular, sitting U.S. senators.
Tlaib, during her campaign, was initially supportive of the two-state solution, but after winning her Democratic primary, she switched her position to supporting a one-state solution. Her policy flip made her lose the endorsement of the openly liberal Jewish group, J Street.
Omar and Tlaib weren’t the only ones to fall into the trap of conduct that crossed well into the territory of anti-Semitism. Keith Ellison, who was the first Muslim elected to Congress and is now Minnesota’s attorney general, was repeatedly denounced by Jewish groups, particularly in the past year, for his ties to raging anti-Semite and Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.
Now, Omar, Tlaib, and Ellison certainly can express their First Amendment rights however maliciously they want, yet we shouldn’t allow their ideas give the impression to other Americans that this is monolithic thinking among Muslims both in the United States and around the world.
It shouldn’t be difficult to be critical of the policies and actions of a government and not make sweeping generalizations that devolve into hatred for an entire group of people.
The biggest challenge will be how long can their supporters let this conduct continue before they call them out on it. If the state of politics has taught us anything, it’s that we shouldn’t hold our breath.
