Pelosi Pulls anti-Semetic Card - as Freshman Lawmaker States The Facts

Democrats moved quickly after the freshman lawmaker suggested support for Israel stemmed from campaign donations.

By MelanieZanona and Heather Caygle

February 12, 2019 "Information Clearing House" -    Rep. Ilhan Omar apologized for anti-Semitic comments Monday after coming under pressure from Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other top Democrats.

The Minnesota Democrat sparked a firestorm Sunday night when she implied lawmakers' support for Israel is driven by campaign donations from pro-Israel groups.

"My intention is never to offend my constituents or Jewish Americans as a whole," Omar said in a statement Monday afternoon. "We have to always be willing to step back and think through criticism, just as I expect people to hear me when others attack me for my identity. This is why I unequivocally apologize."

Omar's statement came after Pelosi and her top lieutenants sharply condemned the freshman lawmaker's comments and called on her to immediately apologize in what was an extraordinary rebuke of a colleague within their party.“Congresswoman Omar’s use of anti-Semitic tropes and prejudicial accusations about Israel’s supporters is deeply offensive,” said Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn and other party leaders in a statement. “We condemn these remarks and we call upon Congresswoman Omar to immediately apologize for these hurtful comments.“

This is the second time in recent weeks Omar has had to walk back controversial comments related to Jews and Israel that were condemned by lawmakers within both parties as offensive and anti-Semitic.

Democratic leaders faced growing pressure to weigh in after the freshman Democrat suggested in a tweet Sunday night that Republican support for Israel is fueled by campaign donations from pro-Israel groups like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

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