Ilhan Omar: US MP apologizes for charges of anti-Semitism

The US-Democratic congressman Ilhan Omar, 37, has apologized for statements that have been criticized as anti-Semitic.

Omar, born in Somalia, had criticized pro-Israeli lobbying in the US over the weekend, using anti-Semitic stereotypes in the opinion of many observers. She had been criticized by both Republicans and members of her own party.

Omar had suggested on Twitter on Sunday that the pro-Israeli lobby group AIPAC was campaigning for pro-Israeli Republican sentiment. According to Politico, this argument serves anti-Semitic stereotypes, according to which money from Jewish Americans supports a pro-Israeli position in the US and elsewhere.

AIPAC! https://t.co/UdzaFUEfrh

For Omar harvested by Republican deputies sharp criticism. According to "Vox", Omar and Rachida Tlaib are also accused of being the second Muslim congressman of anti-Semitism.

More about SPIEGEL +

Erin Schaff / The New York Times / LAIFNew US Congress "There's room, guys"

But Democrats also criticized Omar for their remarks: The Democratic leadership team in a statement condemned the Tweets Omar as "deeply offensive." Others, however, showed her support in the form of notes at her office as well as via Twitter.

AFP

Support notes for Ilhan Omar at her office

On Monday, Omar apologized for her remarks:

Listening and learning, but standing strong pic.twitter.com/7TSroSf8h1

"My goal is never to offend my electorate or Jewish Americans in general," she wrote on Twitter. "We always have to be prepared to step back and review criticism, just as I expect people to hear me when others attack me for my identity, so I apologize clearly."

At the same time, however, she also wrote that the role of lobbyists in politics remains problematic, whether it be the influence of AIPAC, the US arms lobby or the fossil fuel industry.