Ilhan Omar addresses murder of Israeli Embassy staff
Rep. Ilhan Omar shockingly refused to acknowledge the deadly shooting at the Capital Jewish Museum overnight that left two Israeli Embassy staffers dead. The pro-Palestinian congresswoman when asked about the tragedy brushed-off the query despite widespread fury over the anti-Semitic murders – even from other pro-Palestinian members of Congress. 'Congresswoman Omar, can I get your reaction to the shooting that happened in DC last night?' a reporter asked outside the Capitol on Thursday morning.
The progressive Minnesota representative responded nonchalantly as she was walking: 'I'm going to go for now.' She then briskly walked away from the cameras and reporters. A few hours later, and afte r mounting outrage over her lack of condemnation, Omar was forced to release a statement on X on the horrific murders. 'I am appalled by the deadly shooting at the Capital Jewish Museum last night,' she wrote.
'Absolutely nothing justifies the murder of innocents,' Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X. 'I am devastated by the killing of two people outside an AJC Global event here in Washington. Our prayers are with the victims, families, and loved ones of all impacted.' 'As we await more details, we must be clear that hatred has no home here. Antisemitism is a threat to all we hold dear as a society. It must be confronted and rooted out everywhere,' the New York Democrat concluded.
Meanwhile, Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) wrote on X early Thursday morning: 'The murder of two Israeli embassy staff outside an AJC Global event in DC is unconscionable and unacceptable.' 'Our freedoms and our destinies are truly tied. I'm praying for the victims, their loved ones, and everyone impacted,' she added. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, the only lawmaker of Palestinian descent, did not weigh-in on the shooting as of early Thursday afternoon.
The shooting suspect identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez was taken into custody and questioned overnight, the FBI said. He was caught on camera repeatedly shouting 'Free Palestine' as he was arrested. Omar, a Somali refugee, is one of the most outspoken on Capitol Hill in support of Palestinians amid the ingoing war with Israel.
Since getting into office, Omar has faced widespread criticism for sharing anti-Israel sentiments and pushing tropes insulting to Jewish people. Back in 2019, Omar was forced to apologize for her a string of comments seen as insulting, insensitive and downright anti-Semitic. In a tweet at the time, the then-freshman congresswoman linked support for Israel to financial contributions by writing: 'It's all about the Benjamins.'
She was accused of using the Puff Daddy song line to call up a harmful stereotype of Jewish Americans. After a phone call with Democratic leadership, Omar apologized for using old anti-Semitic tropes about Jews and money.
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