Government & Politics

Bowman threatens defamation lawsuit after Latimer says he takes ‘money from Hamas’ At a black history event this weekend, Westchester County Executive George Latimer baselessly accused Bowman of 'taking money from Hamas.'

(City & State NY) Rep. Jamaal Bowman’s campaign sent a letter threatening a defamation lawsuit against his challenger, Westchester County Executive George Latimer, for defamation after Latimer baselessly accused him of accepting donations from the Hamas terrorist group. On Monday, Black Westchester […]

Interfaith

CAIR director says he was ‘happy’ to witness Oct. 7 attacks, Israel ‘does not have right to self-defense’ CAIR co-founder Nihad Awad also stated that Israel had no right to defend itself from Hamas attacks because it is an 'occupying power'

(Fox) One of the top executives of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said he was “happy” to witness the Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel. Nihad Awad, executive director and co-founder of CAIR, expressed his feelings on the terrorist attack at […]

Government & Politics

Jeffries endorses Ilhan Omar amid AIPAC primary threat Democratic leadership is sending a message to progressives who are worried about primary challenges from the pro-Israel group: Caucus leaders plan to support all incumbents.

(Politico) When Pramila Jayapal faced fierce blowback in mid-July after dubbing Israel a “racist state,” it immediately unnerved fellow House progressives. Their concern: Would Democratic leaders recommit to the longstanding policy of backing all incumbents, including critics of Israel? The answer was […]

Government & Politics

Ilhan Omar to be booted from House Foreign Affairs Committee, Kevin McCarthy says House Speaker Kevin McCarthy repeats promise to remove congresswoman with history of antisemitic comments from influential committee.

(JNS) House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on Tuesday repeated his promise to block vocal critic of Israel Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) from the House Foreign Affairs Committee. In an interview with Punchbowl News, McCarthy said that he would also prevent Reps. Adam […]

Government & Politics

Palestine advocates slam Biden’s ‘victory lap’ over Gaza ceasefire White House sent an email on Friday highlighting comments from pro-Israel advocates and others praising Biden for role in securing truce

(Middle East Eye) As Palestinians were still looking for survivors under the rubble in Gaza, the White House officially tried to claim victory, citing praise by pro-Israel lawmakers and advocacy groups for President Joe Biden’s handling of the crisis. The administration’s approach […]

Government & Politics

GOP lawmakers seek to remove Omar from committees as Dems press to drop Taylor Greene from panel Republicans argue that Omar has made anti-Semitic comments that are grounds for dismissal

(Fox) House GOP lawmakers are seeking this week to oust Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota from her committee assignments as Democrats push for similar action against embattled Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Fox News has learned. The House is […]

Children & Teens

US congresswoman Betty McCollum receives award for Palestinian children advocacy McCollum thanked American Muslims for Palestine for the 'Champion of Palestinian Rights Award' and accepted it on behalf of 'those who stand up to support human rights for children'

(Middle East Eye) A Palestinian American rights and advocacy group awarded US Congresswoman Betty McCollum on Tuesday with an award for her work advocating for Palestinian human rights. Speaking at the Virtual Palestine Advocacy Day hosted by American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), […]

Government & Politics

Biden campaign’s attacks on Linda Sarsour alienate Muslim voters, activists say Muslim advocates say the campaign's statement against Sarsour shows disregard for Muslim voters who may play key role in November's election

(Middle East Eye) Palestinian-American activist Linda Sarsour offered advice to the Democrats on Tuesday on how to engage Muslim voters: ensure representation, treat Muslims as a decisive voting bloc in swing states and reach out to them in their communities. “The Democratic […]

Government & Politics

Joe Biden’s campaign removes ‘racist’ anti-Palestinian language from platform Passage saying BDS lets Palestinians 'off the hook for their choices' has disappeared from Biden's plan for Jewish-American communities

(Middle East Eye) Joe Biden’s campaign has watered down an anti-BDS line from his platform for Jewish-American communities, removing “racist” language that angered Palestine solidarity activists. The Biden campaign said in a statement earlier this month that his administration will “firmly reject […]

Government & Politics

Ilhan Omar signs onto AIPAC letter siding with Trump on Iran After clashing repeatedly with AIPAC, Rep. Ilhan Omar has signed onto one of their key lobby agenda items for this year.

(Al-Monitor) It’s no secret that Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., has had an acrimonious relationship with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). The freshman lawmaker has quickly become a lightning rod of criticism for AIPAC and its supporters, who have gone so […]

Government & Politics

Hosting Linda Sarsour, Engel challenger rails against congressman’s ‘uncritical’ support of Israel 'One is bad and one is outrageous,' Sarsour says of presidential candidates

(Jewish Insider) New York congressional candidate Andom Ghebreghiorgis hosted Palestinian-American activist Linda Sarsour on Wednesday evening for a digital town hall discussion about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and former Vice President Joe Biden’s presidential platform. Details: Ghebreghiorgis, a 33-year-old activist from Mount Vernon, […]

Government & Politics

Group of Palestinian Americans endorses Bernie Sanders for president Collection of activists and organisations says Sanders draws attention to the 'injustices of the occupation'

(Middle East Eye) A coalition of Palestinian-American activists and advocacy groups has endorsed Senator Bernie Sanders for president, lauding the Democratic candidate as a “supporter of justice, equality and human rights for all, including the Palestinian people.” “We call upon all Palestinian […]

Government & Politics

Israel’s UN envoy calls for action against ‘anti-Semite of the year’ Ilhan Omar The congresswoman sparked controversy last year by making statements that Jewish groups and her congressional colleagues called anti-Semitic

(Haaretz) Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, on Monday encouraged “action” against U.S. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, directly meddling in American politics. Taking to Twitter, Danon referred to the right-wing Stop Antisemitism organization that “just named Congresswoman Omar its 2019 anti-Semite […]

Government & Politics

After Israel allows West Bank visit to grandmother, Tlaib says she’s not going Legislator cites ‘humiliating’ terms for family trip, which she’d requested after being denied formal visit with Omar; she’d been blasted by Palestinians for ‘surrender’ to Israel

(Times of Israel) Democratic Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib changed her mind Friday on visiting the West Bank, hours after Israel said it would allow her to visit relatives in the Palestinian territory on humanitarian grounds. The about-face was the latest in a series […]

Government & Politics

McCarthy to Post: Omar and Tlaib pulling Democratic Party away from Israel 'They are not a few [freshmen] anymore. They are the movement within the party,' McCarthy said.

(Jerusalem Post) The difference between the Democratic and Republican parties on Israel is that while only mainstream Democrats support the Jewish state, the whole Republican party does, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-California) told the Jerusalem Post on Tuesday. And the problem […]

Government & Politics

Heads of Republican-Democrat delegation agree: Omar, Tlaib should visit Israel Even critics ‘leave with much more positive view,’ say leaders of largest-ever group of US lawmakers, with 41 Democrats and 31 Republicans to tour; organizers deny Trump objects

(Times of Israel) The leaders of an unprecedentedly large bipartisan congressional delegation visiting Israel on Sunday welcomed the plan by two controversial Muslim lawmakers to visit the Jewish state, and Jerusalem’s decision to let them enter the country. The two Democratic freshman […]

Government & Politics

NGO petitions to prevent US Rep. Ilhan Omar from entering Israel Shurat HaDin asks court to demand that Interior Minister Aryeh Deri bar Democrat lawmaker over her support for boycotts against Jewish state

(Times of Israel) An Israeli NGO has filed a petition to have US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar barred from entering the country when she arrives for an upcoming tour because she supports boycotts of Israel. Shurat HaDin told the Times of Israel it […]

Government & Politics

Democrats brush off Rep. Omar’s push for Israel boycott, target BDS movement instead It's 'dead on arrival,' insists Brad Sherman, a senior Dem on Foreign Affairs Committee

(Washington Times) Jewish Democrats brushed off Rep. Ilhan Omar’s Israel boycott resolution this week and instead kept their focus on their own resolution to denounce the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. Ms. Omar, a vocal critic of Israel and a BDS […]

Government & Politics

Netanyahu to decide whether Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib can enter Israel, West Bank for tour Israel's Foreign Ministry can recommend diplomatic exceptions for law denying entry to BDS supporters, but due to visit's sensitivity, the premier would have to make the call, Haaretz has learned

(Haaretz) Democratic U.S. Congresswomen Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib are planning a visit to Israel and the West Bank in the coming weeks, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will have to decide whether they would be let in to the country, […]

Christians

Pence: ‘Anti-Semitism has no place in the Congress of the United States’ 'Anyone who slanders the historic' US-Israel alliance 'should not be sitting' on House Foreign Affairs Committee

(Free Beacon) Vice President Mike Pence said anti-Semitism “has no place” [in] Congress during a speech before the nonprofit Christians United for Israel on Monday. “Let me say this from the heart. Anti-Semitism has no place in the Congress of the United […]

Christians

Top-ranking Republican McCaul calls for ouster of Omar from committee 'I think Omar has to go,' said U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), eliciting wild applause and a standing ovation from the audience, though others will have to make that decision.

(JNS) U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said on Monday that Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) should be removed from the committee for her anti-Semitic remarks. When asked by Michelle Makori of i24 News at […]