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 […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

More presidential candidates are visiting mosques than ever before Prior to the 2020 election, presidential candidates rarely — if ever — visited a mosque on the campaign trail. But that’s changing.

(HuffPost) The day before he appeared onstage at Wednesday’s Democratic presidential debate, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee visited the Islamic Center of Detroit to discuss the concerns of Muslim Americans. The roundtable, attended by imams, activists, nonprofit leaders and other community members, lasted […]

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

Omar challenger motivated by 9/11 comments

(KSTP) Congresswoman Ilhan Omar has become a lightning rod for controversy in her less than two years representing Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District. Now, she’s beginning to attract challengers for the 2020 election. “I think there are a lot of disaffected moderate Democrats […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Ilhan Omar: I’m going to unmask the system of oppression in US At historic conference, Muslim Caucus condemns Trump's attacks, calls for infrastructure for organising Muslim Americans

(Al-Jazeera) An event in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, billed as the first national gathering of Muslims in politics in United States history, began with a resounding … rebuke of racism and Islamophobia emanating from the White House, and a call for Muslims […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Muslim Caucus to hold first conference amid Trump’s attacks Ilhan Omar, others set to speak at first annual conference. Most major 2020 candidates are not attending.

(Al-Jazeera) Muslim political leaders and academics are set to gather in Washington, DC, on Tuesday for what is being billed as the first national gathering of Muslims in politics in United States history. The historic moment comes as President Donald Trump and […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

It’s 2019 and Democratic presidential candidates are ignoring Muslim voters Muslim organizers say the candidates’ lack of interest in an upcoming gathering reflects a much larger apathy toward their community.

(HuffPost) The president of the United States stood tall and proud at his North Carolina rally as the crowd chanted loudly for him to deport Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), one of the first two Muslim women in Congress. Just days before, Donald Trump had […]

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, […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Muslim organizations across U.S. react to Trump’s controversial remarks 'President Trump's remarks today are a dangerous new low that will lead to more death threats on Congresswoman Omar and a surge in bigotry against American Muslims.'

(Jerusalem Post) Muslim organizations across the US reacted Monday night to US President Donald Trump’s controversial remarks about a group of four progressive congresswomen. “President Trump’s remarks today are a dangerous new low that will lead to more death threats on Congresswoman […]

Government & Politics

Rashida Tlaib compares ‘racist’ Israel to 19th-century US segregation Rashida Tlaib also said of US President Donald Trump: 'We are allowing a crooked CEO to run this country.'

(Jerusalem Post) Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib claims that “there is continued dehumanization and racist policies by the State of Israel that violate international human rights, but also violate my core values of who I am as an American.” In an interview published Saturday […]

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 […]

Academics & Education

MP Michael Cooper disparaged ‘goat herder cultures’ in 2008 law class discussion, lawyers claim Conservative MP denies allegation, says he's taking 'all necessary legal measures'

(CBC) Conservative MP Michael Cooper made comments deriding “goat herder cultures” during a discussion about Islam’s compatibility with Canadian democracy when he was a law student at the University of Alberta a decade ago, according to two lawyers who have come forward […]

Government & Politics

Massachusetts pro-Israel groups condemn state Democratic lawmakers for joint CAIR event 'We believe that our commonwealth is stronger when faith communities and elected leaders come together and stand with each other in public civic space.'

(JNS) A number of Massachusetts Jewish and pro-Israel groups are condemning several Democratic state lawmakers for participating in an Eid al-Fitr event at the Massachusetts State House being co-hosted by the Massachusetts branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), which has […]

Government & Politics

Jewish Democrat: Don’t make a big deal if Tlaib leads visit to W. Bank 'Israel is giving her more attention than she deserves,' said Klein, who served two terms as a congressman from Florida, before being defeated by Alan West in 2010.

(Jerusalem Post) Israeli officials should offer to meet US Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib if she brings a small group of congressmen to the West Bank in August, on a trip she is planning to run concurrently with an AIPAC-backed trip for new representatives, […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

Muslim candidates feel the effect of Trump attacks on Ilhan Omar Some Muslim Americans running for office in Virginia have seen a rise in death threats since the controversy.

(HuffPost) President Donald Trump’s decision to vilify Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) has had real, harmful effects not just on the first-year congresswoman, but on Muslim candidates running for public office at the state and local levels as well. In March, Omar faced […]