Give credit for Israeli successes where it belongs--to the US taxpayers. Israel will never gain universal respect and the admiration of the American citizenry until it remove its fingers from its pockets.
Those who criticise Italy are not regarded as anti-Catholic...
...criticizing India is not seen as anti-Hindu.
Criticizing Pakistan is not routinely considered to be anti-Muslim...
....Criticizing China is not considered to be anti-Buddhist
...Criticizing England is not seen as being anti-Christian.
But let slip the odd negative opinion of Israel and whammo! You are anti-Semitic. Go figure.
Honestly speaking I don't care if Jewish people should have a homeland or Palestinians should have a homeland. The only thing that worries me is that all our politicians, both on Left and Right, during any campaign has to say they support Israel. I never heard a candidate saying I support Palestine. I feel there is a pervasive fear of Isreal in our media and political elite.
25
She's finished. She's gone. Even AOC can't save her now. Next.
136
AOC may be having problems saving herself.
13
@P&L
And your reasoning behind that is, what? -- because no one is allowed to be critical of Israel in this country anymore?
If that's true. We're in deeper water than anyone thought.
112
@P&L I bet you she not only withstands this, she wins another term in 2020. Just as with other public officials who dare point out the subservience of our government to Israeli interests, she's being attacked by the entire political and media environment. But such attacks have also led to strong grassroots support from constituents and people across the country. The younger generation, thank God, don't seem to care for AIPAC censorship, nor are they to keen to support an apartheid state that regularly engages in human rights violations.
118
I am of Jewish descent and my discussions with family show that many (most?) American Jews are unable to have a rational discussion of these issues. Friedman's supposedly dispassionate and objective analysis proves my point.
Friedman concludes, with ZERO hard evidence except her "waffling" on her support of BDS, that Omar dislikes AIPAC "because she dislikes Israel, because she does not really believe the Jewish people have a right to an independent state in their ancestral homeland." This is clearly nonsense, and I don't think Friedman would ever draw such a ridiculous conclusion in other contexts.
This article also shows a prominent bias with many Jews: anybody who criticizes Israel or it's policies without--in the same breath--also criticizing Israeli opponents (especially Palestine/ Hamas and Iran) risks being labeled antisemetic or against Israel's existence. Just look at Friedman's argument here:
"... when I see it coming from a congresswoman who, to my knowledge, has never criticized the Palestinian leadership for its corruption and failure....it makes me suspicious of her motives."
The crazy part is I don't even think Friedman realizes the ridiculous standard he's applying. Would Friedman be "suspicious" of someone's motives if that person criticized the U.S. war in Afghanistan before denouncing the Taliban or Al Qaeda? It's so absurd. Why must we preface criticism of Israel--a first-world, supposedly liberal democracy--with criticism of terrorists?
1851
@Ben J Let's think about your argument here for a second. You wrote, "Would Friedman be "suspicious" of someone's motives if that person criticized the U.S. war in Afghanistan before denouncing the Taliban or Al Qaeda?"
To answer your question, yes, if someone was calling for us to withdraw from Afghanistan and for the Taliban state to be reestablished, it would be right to question their motives. Omar and the BDS movement aren't just exhorting the Jews to make reforms. They're trying to empower a Palestinian government that's largely run by Hamas without calling for that government (which is much more draconian than Israel's) to make any moves towards rejecting violence or respecting human rights.
I don't love a lot of Israel's policies myself, but the both sides argument doesn't work here any better than it did in Charlottesville. Causing economic hardships by building a wall to stop suicide bombers isn't as bad as being the country that initially sponsored those suicide bombers.
87
@Ben J, you seem far afield from what Mr. Friedman wrote. He clearly mentioned his own criticisms of AIPAC and Bibi, and qualified himself by saying what he'd seen thus far from Omar "leads him to believe..."
Your response seems to include a preset litany of criticisms.
I'm wondering how old you are? "Younger" Jews may not have had the same life experiences as our parents and grandparents. Did you live through WWII and the Holocaust? Did you ever have your American-ness questioned because you were Jewish? Did you watch the events at the '72 Olympics live? How about the airliner hijacking to Uganda by supporters of Palestine and the subsequent raid on Entebbe? How about the recent massacre at the synagogue in Pittsburgh? I went there, laid down flowers, and prayed.
Unfortunately, there are too many valid reasons for Jews to be concerned about their place in the world, be that America, Israel, or any other place they call home. It's a complex reality to process and to bear.
Friedman also very clearly and accurately spelled out many reasons for American support of Israel. The fact that Israel is the only democratic partner we have in the Middle East is no small point.
Perhaps, consider the broader implications of events over the decades (centuries and millenia) that have shaped the myriad lives of and viewpoints held by Jews, and give your family members and fellow Jews a little more room to be human in their hopes, dreams and fears for the future.
Regards, my friend.
84
@Ben J Ilan Omar's own comment "I want to talk about the political influence in this country that says it is O.K. for people to push for allegiance to a foreign country.” She is calling out AIPAC. That's how he gets there.
And supporters of BDS 100% don't believe that Jewish people have a right to an independent state as evidence by only highlighting so-called Israeli transgressions and putting no responsibility on Palestinians for the current situation.
Finally, if you are devoted to human rights and equality, to focus on Israel in the Middle East and ignore the rest is like saying you are fighting for civil rights in this country, but not standing with Black Lives Matter.
By singling out Israel, she is targeting Israel and Jews. Plain and simple.
54
I support Rep. Omar and the efforts to free Palestinians from the apartheid-like conditions that they live under. I do not believe Rep. Omar should be shamed from raising her voice on important international issues and the House of Representatives should cease and desist from the effort to silence her. It is ironic the amount of effort being put into reprimanding Rep. Omar while white supremacists, misogynists and homophobes in the Congress continue to voice their opinions without consequence.
1284
@GA @PDXJen, have either of you been to Israel. Tens of thousands of Israeli Arabs vote for Jewish elected officials because they have more rights in Israel than they would have anywhere else in the Middle East.
Maybe the issue is that you are not familiar with Apartheid?
43
@PDXJen Israeli Arabs have full rights in Israel. You seem to be conflating the plight of Arabs living in the Palestinian Authority or Gaza under Hamas, etc. with that of Arabs in Israel.
49
@PDXJen Rep. Omar’s remarks unwittingly play into the hands of anti-Semites (more precisely, anti-Jews) and Islamophobes alike. As odious as I find AIPAC, it is not trying to get Congresspersons (especially Jews in Congress) to declare allegiance to Israel either equally or in preference to the USA. Friedman has been writing cogently on behalf of a two-state solution for nearly as long as Rep. Omar has been on this earth. Her refusal to see nuance and her failure to recognize that her words—however unintentionally—perpetuate slanderous anti-Jewish tropes and stereotypes lead me to believe that she, like many millennials (especially non-Jewish), is unaware of the history of those tropes.
There is entirely too much binary thinking (e.g., “if you’re not 100% with us you’re against us”) on the part of voters unaware of the past.
14
I would like to know under what circumstances her remarks were made; Was it in a discussion in committee where they had relevance to the topic at hand, or just said in isolation, voicing her opinion but having nothing to do with business at hand?
All I see or read are news quips quoting the remarks but not of the context in which made. That's the most important factor in determining relevancy or prejudicial behavior.
60
Engel's gambit to go all in on scapegoating Omar may prove a turning point. She questions why an American legislator must confirm support for foreign countries. I prefer to support my country, the USA. I still have that right.
63
Taking sides doesn't provide a solution, it just provides more "talking points". From my perspective it is always better to look at one's own part in a conflict so an opening can occur or as Jesus said "take the log out of your own eye before you remove the splinter from another." Our political leaders need to show respect and maturity in what they say to the public. They no longer just represent themselves. They have taken an oath to serve a higher calling to all people.
10
I think Friedman makes a good point, but I think that call-in on behalf of Omar should contribute to some revision of it. In any case, it's an old trick of sophistry to equate two things illogically to condemn one of them, e.g., Bush/Cheney = Troops, criticism of Israel = anti-Semitic, etc. There are a number of people commenting here with proper logic to assert support of Israel that includes perceptive criticism, such as some of what Friedman has done. On a general, modern and secular note: It had been sensible to want a country with an established state religion to protect it, only until the Age of Enlightenment that produced the First Amendment to our Constitution. From the Founders' genius of history (and compassion!), its brilliance is in showing how the practice of religion can be protected anywhere and everywhere. Tragically, still insisting upon "Jewish/Islamic states" post-Enlightenment can then still be seen as inevitably contributing much to the distress of everyone in these times. On a particular note, it strikes me as a very great irony that Americans who have enough wealth to contribute in support of Israel and the Arab states may well have ancestors who came here and thrived under the protection of our Constitution with that First Amendment. Then, for them to turn around and support countries with state religions seems like somewhat of a logical contradiction to me. But then religious belief has no logic, only faith.
33
Mr. Friedman,
Ms Omar did not accuse AIPAC supporters of dual loyalty, the old trope.
She objects to being told that critics of Israeli policy are automatically anti-Israel, or not loyal to our ally, if they dare to criticize our ally in any way.
I think Ms. Omar has a lot to learn in expressing herself better, but she is trying to make essentially the same points that you are making, that Palestinians are being treated terribly by Netanyahu’s government.
I would like to see an honest debate about the two-state solution, now that Netanyahu has dramatically altered circumstances on the ground.
52
Surely I'm not the only one who sees no difference at all between Omar's two statements on BDS? She doesn't support it because she doesn't think it will be effective, but at the same time supports the freedom of OTHERS to support it.
It's pretty clearly a free speech issue, and Friedman (and the Republicans) are on the wrong side.
83
As an American lawyer and the granddaughter of Orthodox Jews who immigrated to the U.S. in the 1920s, I was appalled that my State legislators voted to pass anti-BDS legislation intended to restrict their own American constituents' long unquestioned First Amendment rights, with the goal of protecting a foreign country. Many Jews opposed such legislation, and many non-Jews supported it, so this is not a Jewish/non-Jewish issue. The problem is that the Prime Minister of the government of that foreign country, Israel, and many members of Congress, attempt to equate one's support for Israel with one's support for Jews, and one's opposition to Israeli policy with anti-Semitism. This is outrageous, and the fact that Omar has not been able play the politics of her legitimate criticism perfectly is no reason to criticize her. There is an unspoken litmus test in most Congressional districts about what one can and cannot say about Israel and still get elected. That is the real travesty. I profoundly thank Rep. Omar for standing up for Americans free speech rights and campaign finance reform.
114
This opinion piece gets to the real heart of the dispute and resistance to Rep. Omar. Yes, the things she says about AIPAC's undue influence and dual loyalty are problematic at best. But the real issue for many of Rep. Omar's critics is the land - including Jerusalem, the West Bank and Israel proper - and who will control it in the future. If Rep. Omar would forcefully come out in favor of an Oslo type solution, many in the Jewish community might ignore her other statements. Of course, if she did come out for an Oslo type solution, she might be viewed as a sellout or traitor by her own people. To walk this line requires a lot of experience and nuance that the freshman representative does not yet (understandably) have.
16
Friedman says he believes in "the right of the Jewish people to build a nation-state." Sure, but this reveals a fundamental problem. The right of the Jewish people has come at the expense of the rights of the indigenous Palestinians. That has been and remains the root of the conflict and division in the Palestinian-Israel situation. The United States largely remains alone in its unquestioning support of Israel, despite a human rights record that is almost universally condemned by the rest of the world. We cover for Israel politically and sponsor the country financially. It is what it is and it is about time people started paying attention to these facts. I can understand why some people don't like these facts questioned, but doing so is not inherently anti-Semitic.
145
Will a two state solution be enough? Consider the two (later, three) state solution that was applied to the Indian subcontinent. At least there have only been occasional small wars to date, with only conventional weapons employed.
Drawing (border) lines in the sand doesn't guarantee peace. I'd bet that there will be aspiring politicians who'll try to build careers on claims that the lines were drawn unfairly. There are likely to be conflicts over water.
Somehow both sides need to find ways of working together for their mutual benefit. As long as it's a zero sum game, there are hard times ahead.
I think Ilhan Omar has an opportunity to work with Jews in Minnesota to find ways to contribute to peace in Israel / Palestine. I hope she takes it.
13
Sure, I see some on nuance in what Friedman is saying. But also incredibly predictable.
American politics has become a stagnant pool of debates that started decades ago, and still going in circles.
13
Friedman's sincere article could be augmented by a discussion of the impact of single issue litmus tests on candidates' practical ability to speak the clear truth as they see it during a Congressional campaign. In many Congressional districts, there is one single issue that will make or break a candidate, regardless of whether the majority of the constituents support the rest of that candidate's platform. In some it is support for or opposition to a woman's right to chose; in others, it is support for the corn industry; in others it is support for Israel. As a practical matter, a person who wants to serve his or her country in Congress is likely to "waffle" on that litmus issue, and it happens every day--the majority of members of Congress do it. However, they do not become subject of accusations of racism/anti-Semitism for doing it. There is something more primitive about Congress's behavior towards those who criticize Israel, than the chummy ability to overlook some "waffling" in other contexts, in light of campaign practicalities.
17
I would like congresswoman Omar to meet with Mr. Friedman for an open dialogue on her beliefs and her view on a possible solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It is great if she could find prominent Palestinians that will support her ideas. Ultimately the people that should judge her views and actions more than any one else are her constituents.
However, the idea that aipac should stop lobbying for Israel is probably unconstitutional. According to Foreign Lobby Watch, foreign interests have spent over $500 million since 2017. Does Ms. Omar have any problem with the concept of foreign lobbying or only with the one that promotes Israel, which, by the way, is not in the top of spending list.
10
Israel is an important American ally in a dangerous part of the world. Unfortunately I believe they are losing support from many Americans because of their treatment of Palestinians - many who are citizens of Israel. We are spending billions and frankly it doesn't appear it is appreciated very much. What troubles me the most right now is the fact that Mr. Netanyahu is apparently a corrupt politician, who is now aligning himself with the most extreme right wing of his party in order to stay in power - and probably stay out of prison. We have the right to criticize Israeli policies. That doesn't mean we don't support a 2 state solution or Israel's right to exist. It also doesn't mean we must reflexively support Israel at the expense of others with whom we might need to work with. I am very troubled by the appearance that Congressional leaders cannot abide any criticism of Israel. While this young Congresswoman may have a lot to learn about politics, she also has a right to express her concerns about AIPAC. I personally do not have a concern that Americans who happen to be of the Jewish faith have a divided loyalty. However, they also must recognize that there are some pretty nasty things going on in Israel, and we as Americans do not have to support Israel blindly. We have a duty to speak up when we see something happening that in the long run is not good for American or Israel.
60
All the Palestineans really have to do is give up their feighned "birthright" to make war on Israel. That would go a long way toward helping make peace and work toward a two state solution. Most of them moved into the area from Trans-Jordan and Syria in the generation immediately preceding that which created Israel anyway.
8
Thank you, for writing a very fair and clear explanation of a complex and confusing (to me and my son, who have discussed this at length recently and had a difficult time understanding the arguments) issue. My sincere compliments to an intelligently crafted article. I whole heartedly agree with your attitude of thoroughally examining both sides, clearly and honestly stating the facts, and attemping to define a best path forward.
14
Quote: "I always put America first, but I want to see Israel thrive — just like many Irish-Americans, Italian-Americans, Indian-Americans and others feel about their ancestral homelands."
My father is 1st generation German-American (via Russia), but I've never been to Germany, don't send any money to Germany, and the US gov't also sends very little in the way of $$ to Germany (Italy nor Ireland for that matter). We've long since lost touch with any distant relatives abroad. My loyalty is to the USA and I pay taxes to the US gov't alone. We celebrate our "ancestral" traditions through food, song, rituals, etc. One can have an affinity for an "ancestral homeland" without sending billions of dollars in aid or founding a PAC to promote it (particularly, when the home country apparently doesn't need it?). Sure, the US & Britain helped found Israel in 1948, but how long do we keep paying? How did we arrive at a $38b military aid package? Is Israel an American colony now? Many of us are trying to puzzle out what is the exact nature of the US relationship with Israel.
BTW, this argument about "affinity" for one's homeland caused the Russian government to send millions of Germans living in German settlements near the Black Sea before WWII into Siberian "labor camps" during WWII and languish in poverty for decades afterward...so it's a good thing that people won't get "affinity" for an ancestral homeland confused with "loyalty" as you made clear in your editorial.
36
We have a problem when criticism of the right wing Israeli government is construed as being anti semitic by the established congressional elite. Even when human rights are abused by this government's policies our leaders fall back on "only democracy in the region" argument and silence international protests. It is refreshing to see a young congresswoman stand up against the "norms"and question the establishment. Israelis and Palestine can achieve peace and live in harmony if we stop our one sided support of Israel.
38
Thomas Friedman routinely uses the phrase "support Israel" or "support for Israel" without making a distinction between the state of Israel and for the policies of its government, undercutting his own argument against Ilhan Omar. He then further undercuts it by highlighting how, even under Obama, American policy has obliterated that distinction, while for the G.O.P. support for Netanyahu, as distinct from support for Israel, is a prerequisite of membership in good standing. Mr. Friedman, please explain to me how a claim that Aipac "has let itself become the slavish, unthinking tool of [the leader of a foreign nation]" is not an accusation worse than one of "dual loyalty"--namely, one of treason.
Human history is a chronicle of catastrophes. Those who wish to rewrite the 20th century in a way more respectful of the rights of the indigenous--in the Middle East, Eastern Europe or anywhere else--regardless of human cost, are fanatics and fools. Israel happened. To wish its destruction is abhorrent. That does not mean what happened was free from injustice or that it is wrong to keep that fact in mind in seeking a more humane future.
28
Where do you prefer they put the Native Tribal homelands (many such states we'll have to create as there are so many tribes that were pushed aside)?
I presume it's okay for the Hawaiians to take back their islands, too. And don't forget the Inuit.
Since you believe in countries being founded right in the middle of an existing land just because they have ancestral roots, you must hold dear to this ideal for the Native tribes, Hawaiians and Inuit, plus returning many parts of the Southwest to the Mexicans, again, ancestral rights coupled with bad behavior by others against them in the past.
26
Here is my question: If there were a country elsewhere in the world that treated its Jewish residents exactly as Israel treats the Palestinians resident in Israel, what would you think of that country?
I think there is a reluctance for Americans to see clearly when it comes to the whole Middle East mess... and part of that is a reflexive acquiescence for anything that Israel does. We find a reason to support it; we give Israel billions of dollars in aid every year, and we have politicians of both parties vying to outdo each other in pledging unstinting support for Israel. Perhaps we should try to be more objective in our foreign policy decisions, and take another look at the way we involve ourselves in the Middle East. It seems that our involvement over the last few decades has not made the entire area any more stable, peaceful, or prosperous for anybody living there, whatever the country.
42
Every government should be a government of, by, and for all the people under its jurisdiction.
I don't think you can have it both ways. Either people have rights -- actual individual human beings. Or peopleS have rights -- groups bound together by connections of culture, religion, and heredity (connections that tend to be mostly fictional anyway, cooked up in the interests of gaining power for whoever claims to represent a people).
There should be no Kurdish state, no Palestinian state, and no Jewish state -- but also no French state, no Christian state, and no US nationality.
7
Thank you once again for clearly expressing such a rational and balanced viewpoint, one that resonates with me, but which I have not been able to express as coherently. Having lived in both Israel and Arab countries and studied Arabic and Islamic history for the past nearly 50 years, I have been saddened to see peace withdraw in the rear view mirror since the Second Intifada and the assassination of Rabin and rise of Netanyahu and his right wing supporters. As I have been saddened to see the Muslim Student Association funding convince students in American colleges and universities that Israel = South Africa and that the Palestinians are a wholly innocent, persecuted minority, with the solution to get rid of the big bad European colonizers. I have known since I fell in love with Israel and then with Arabic and the Arabs, that the Palestinian - Israeli conflict is complicated and tragic for both peoples. And my late husband and I supported a two-state solution, even going so far as to be arrested in Hebron for it, as far back as 1972-3. I love you Thomas Friedman. I wish people would listen.
11
This all seems like a piling on kind of thing. The media tripping over themselves to pledge support to Israel and denounce antisemitism. I remember when Israel was bombing Beirut, and it was mentioned that they were using cluster bombs on civilian populations against some international conventions and also against US proper use laws. When we discussed it at work (it was all over the papers back then), we found ourselves whispering to each other about it. The majority of the people working at this job felt the same way, yet there we were whispering our outrage to each other. What IIhan Omar said needed to be said, she probably didnt choose the most politically correct way of making her point. Instead of taking up the issue in a mature fashion, the media gets led astray (as always) by the terms used rather than the very important issue raised.
38
First to @Richard Allen: There is nothing in Richad Allen's comment to suggest that he thinks "a religion that is 1500 years older is a "better" religion". He is just saying that he met many recent immigrants who lacked basic knowledge of the background to the conflict.
.
Second: To all the commenters who say that the speech in support of BDS is being suppressed: No one is being prevented from speaking, writing or demonstrating in support of this vile movement. What is being prevented - through our elected government - is enacting laws, business contracts/practices that discriminate against Israel. That is definitely in the domain of our elected government. American legislatures have a right to pass laws to prevent harm to its ally.
4
One of Friedman's better columns -- unique for its clarity, passion and forcefulness. That doesn't imply agreement with all of it, but one has to respect the quality of effort and its essential honesty.
Here is a quibble: Friedman infers that by supporting Palestinian refugees' right of return BDS must necessarily favor the destruction of Israel as an independent state. That inference may be possible but it is not logically required. In the absence of an agreed framework for solution, all options remain on the table. The two-state solution is not divinely decreed on an engraved stone tablet. A categorical condemnation of BDS on grounds of a hypothetical inference cannot be justly maintained.
The Israeli/Palestinian conflict resists resolution mainly because there is no good, simple answer and all options are burdened with contradictions. Can you have a healthy democracy in a theocratic state with a major cohort of second-class citizens? Why should Palestinians be expected to behave peacefully when Israel continues to steal their lands? What is the meaning of a call for the return of Palestinian refugees when there is no obvious place to put them?
These unresolved paradoxes plague the positions of all participants in the debate, not just BDS. That makes it unfair to single them out for special condemnation. It is the one-sided hypocrisy of these criticisms of BDS that truly rankles, especially when compared to the kid-glove treatment routinely accorded to Bibi and AIPAC.
14
As so many Americans are shocked! shocked! at allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election, and the alleged complicity of Trump and his team. Yet, here we have no such dismay at the factual influence of Israeli supporters, lead by AIPAC and who know what other 'agents', in the actual involvement of numerous US elections and policy making over many, many years.
The Russian involvement may (or may not) have been criminal but it definitely is tawdry. AIPAC's support of Israeli may be completely with in the realm of US law but it doesn't make it any less tawdry.
Rep. Omar and others are being smeared for merely stating the above which is so evident and obvious.
I for one heartily support Rep. Omar's assertions as not being anti-semitic. They are statements and position well within her role as an elected official and her freedom of speech. Credit to those of her colleagues coming to her defense.
14
I am not a Jew, but for years I have supported wholeheartedly and without reservation the views expressed by Thomas Friedman today about Israel, the Palestinians, AIPAC and Benjamin Netanyahu.
As far as Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, I also agree with the assessment by Mr. Friedman.
If Ilhan Omar is sincere in her claim that she simply opposes the bullying tactics of AIPAC and Netanyahu, then we should be willing to chalk up her earlier statements as the imprecise ramblings of a young person and a newcomer to Washington politics.
If, however, Ilhan Omar is anti-Semitic or opposed to the right of Israel to exist, we should condemn her.
Hopefully, older and wiser members of the Democratic Caucus are counselling Ilhan Omar, helping her see the Israeli-Palestinian impasse with greater insight and assuring her that there is absolutely no place for an anti-Semite in the Caucus.
3
Just for the record, I live in St Louis Park MN, am represented by Ms Omar, and totally support her.
14
One can tell Mr. Friedman has written this column from his heart. He should be commended for it.
Many commentators say Rep. Omar will learn. Actually no one will pay attention to what she has to say after the next election when she is defeated by "the lobby."
I suspect she is anti-Jewish and anti-Israel both, but that is not unconstitutional or illegal. So why punish her in such a drastic way? To make sure no one speaks like Rep. Omar in Washington for a long time. Silencing opposition is an old trick.
5
Thank you. I agree wholeheartedly!
4
If you look at the earth as an organism, seeing nations as developing organs within it, and humans as cells, nationalism looks like a primitive stage of evolution. It would make no more sense for cells to fight for the liver's right to exist than the heart's.
3
Nothing she has said is anti-Semitic. You can disagree with her positions all you want, but that doesn't warrant any kind of rebuke or condemnation. The Democratic leadership is sailing into very dangerous territory with their adulation of lobbyist groups while claiming to support campaign reform.
12
I find myself very much agreeing with Thomas Friedman here. The one exception I take with his opinion is that she doesn't need to criticize the Palestinians in the same breath. Rather it would be helpful if her criticism was specific instead of awash in the generalized anti-semitic tropes that Jews have confronted for millenia. She may not be anti-semitic. She may believe in the existence of the state of Israel but that's not at all clear from her rhetoric. Instead her rhetoric says that Israel's control is based on money, Israel has hypnotized (inotherwords 'controls') the world and those who support Israel must be dual loyalists. If you replace the word Israel with the word Jew, you get 3 very popular themes amongst anti-semites the world over. So does she get points for slapping Aipac -- sure. I'm Jewish and believe that Aipac has done more harm than good. I don't support it. But she loses points and frankly leaves a lot of us (liberal democrats) scratching our heads as to what exactly her point is when she isn't specific about her criticism? If she feels that Aipac exerts undue influence then why not say that specifically? Her broad generalizations are not helpful unless she does intend as Thomas Friedman asks to ultimately hopefully help bring about an end to the state itself.
3
Thank you Tom. I am a big fan. She is going to be a problem for Democrats
3
Rep. Omar has made statements critical of Israel, and given her constituents, that should not come as a surprise.
Sure, it may not be wise to criticize America's closest ally in the Middle East, but accusing Rep. Omar of antisemitism is a bit much. But such a charge may in fact provided evidence of the strength of AIPAC.
9
Fortunately, Bernie Sanders and Kamala Harris are way ahead of you on this issue.
5
Friedman has tried to be genuinely fair and balanced in his critique of Rep. Omar, up to a point. That both writer and representative fail to support AIPAC does not make one or the other an anti-semite. Kudos to Friedman for recognizing this. However, his other criticisms of Ms. Omar is rooted in supposition, interpretation and selective assessment of her words and actions.
What has been clear in the media coverage of Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is the anti-Muslim, anti-woman and anti-progressive learnings of most MSM, both print and broadcast. Rarely is her opposition to Israeli policies presented as representative of many of her constituents, and consistent with her own experiences with the radical, right-wing actions of Benjamin Netanyahu. Opposing Netanyahu is not anti-semitic or anti-Israel. It is common sense. Yet, a common sense that is rarely or fairly presented by forces like AIPAC, who do influence members of Congress in both parties, and right-wing wingnuts in the Trump administration.
7
I have been a member of AIPAC in the past, have attended one or two of their conferences, but I cut ties with them during Obama's administration b/c I was so appalled at their behavior with respect to how they treated Obama (in contrast with Republicans). Single issue Israel voters in the U.S. are immoral, and that may include some of my family members. So while I'm not really sure where this congress woman is coming from in terms of her overall views/motivations, I support her right to question the seemingly blind loyalty to AIPAC that politicians are required to have for fear of being called anti-semitic. Saying someone is anti-semitic for being disgusted with AIPAC and the corrupt Netanyahu government is like saying someone is un-patriotic b/c they are disgusted with Donald Trump. This is a ridiculous argument, and we need to support people who respectfully challenge AIPAC and Netanyahu.
22
NICE REPORTING, THOUGHTFUL, THANK YOU...BC
What is happening to the Democrat party? They used to be for everyone. Now, if you make the most noise, you are the new star.
If you are the new victim, you call a foul on anyone. Even other victims. And, EVERYONE had best get on board. What does that mean?
The leadership had to call for a resolution, that specified some members would not be "disrespected". But, wait. The resolution had to include language that specified "all victims" had to be respected.
Nancy Pelosi doesn't have a mutiny. She has several mutinies. Good luck, Captain Pelosi.
5
I grew up in the same area of Minneapollis as Mr. Friedman and enjoyed my liberal Jewish upbringing. It's that background which has me so despondent at the fracture between the values I hold as a Jew and the current behavior of Israel. My family is fractured too, into hard right wing and secular liberal supporters of unequivocal equality for Palestinian, with fairer treatment of these people who share a land with the Jews. I am shocked by Aipac's activities and the snuggling with the odious Trump, I am beyond appalled at the spread of the settlements and of atavistic religious fundamentalism in a country I once felt a part of because of its enlightened Judaism. I know there are many who feel as I do.
The malady of Trumpism has spread worldwide. If they name anything at all after him in Israel, as I have heard rumors of, it would be a blemish and a joke.
12
Having recently returned from a trip to Israel/Palestine I fully agree with the wise thoughts of mr. Friedman.
But I think representative Omar has done the nation a favor by raising the issue of our blind allegiance to AIPAC and to the benighted policies of the present Israeli ministration. Israel is a wonderful nation. Palestine is a wonderful nation to be.
I for one would be happy to help fund a fact-finding trip for her to Israel/Palestine. Do you think AIPAC or either one of the political parties will help me? I would hope so.
3
It is a smear to portray AIPAC as a right wing organization. I was involved with the organization for decades and it bent over backwards to be bipartisan and cultivate relationships with members of Congress in both parties.
AIPAC exists to build the relationship between the US and Israel and supports the position of the Israeli government, left, right or center. It just so happens that Israel has had a right wing government for ten years. The failure of multiple peace initiatives has destroyed the left wing.
4
Meet with Representative.Omar, Mr. Friedman. Form a partnership with her. Work with her and advise her how to work with Congress.
Go inside. Don't fire shots against her from afar.
Maybe someday you two and other will find a way to make a two-state solution a reality.
4
I believe that Jews, Kurds, and others have a right to form their own nation, but not not necessarily their original homeland. Too many times, the original homeland was acquired by genocide, as is the case with Israel, and the United States.
9
Would Mr. Friedman also strongly believe in the right of the Native American people to build a nation-state in their ancient homeland?
At any time Mr. Friedman is free to donate his Minnesota home back to the Chippewa.
Only difference is the Chippewa lost their ancient homeland 200 years ago, not the 2,000 of the Lost Tribe.
13
Many in this country have nothing but contempt for the Jewish State. They don’t want American dollars going there, they don’t want the Israeli government having any say in American politics, they don’t believe in the whole concept of a state associated with a religion, and, of course, they despise Netanyahu for how he treated Obama and for his alignment with Trump.
Frankly, for the most part, this has nothing to do with Palestinians, who turned down offers in 1948, 2001 and 2008 for their own state; and who resorted to airplane hijacking in the 1970s and 1980s, and to suicide bombings in the 1990s and 2000s.
So what is israel to do?
First and foremost, Israel needs to continue doing what is necessary to keep its citizens safe from attacks. BDS is insignificant, and the attention it’s getting from unnecessary bills is giving it more attention than it deserves.
Second, Israel needs to make new offers to the Palestinians for a state in the West Bank and Gaza, with land swaps to account for population centers. They should make them publicly and often!
The truth is that none of those offers will be accepted because the Palestinians don’t want a state next to Israel. They want Israel.
So why even make the offer?
Because everyone else needs to be reminded of that.
13
I am what the East Coast once characterized as WASP. I fully support a healthy thriving Palestine. I also fully support a healthy thriving Israel.
Does the first make me anti-Semitic? Does the second make me anti- Palestinian and somehow loyal to two specific governments?
No, my view shows an idealistic humanist. We need many more of "us" especially among servants of the public like I. O. whose comments on this topic are adolescent if not ignorant.
Laying blame and name calling is intellectually lazy as well as destructive. Working toward a solution takes smarts, determination, empathy and a deep well of patience to draw from.
5
Ilhan Omar’s most recent comments have been stripped entirely of their context, their intentions twisted and reversed. During an event in Washington DC last week, she spoke sensitively about her commitment to human rights advocacy, her experiences of Islamophobia, and her compassion for her Jewish constituents. Then Omar said: “I want to talk about the political influence in this country that says it is OK for people to push for allegiance to a foreign country ... I want to ask, why is it OK for me to talk about the influence of the NRA, of fossil-fuel industries, or big pharma, and not talk about a powerful lobby that is influencing policy.” This is an excerpt from another newspaper, this may provide a bit of background about Ilhan.
10
The corruption in Washington has corrupted any discussion of this issue just as it has corrupted any honest discussion of our hypocritical support for barbarous regimes like the one in Saudi Arabia.
The same moral problem applies to both. Free speech is but pearls before swine.
We are asked to believe that the government of Saudi Arabia is moderate and Bernie Sanders is an extremist.
6
She can't criticize Israel because she hasn't been there? She can't criticize China, Saudi Arabia, Syria, or Russia for their acts unless she goes there? I am glad you point out the nefarious influence of Aipac. She could be more careful in choosing her words, but congressmen doing the bidding of Israel to get donations is as evil as doing the NRA's bidding to get their donations - when the result is not helping America.
8
Israel is a nation, and it should not be shielded from the criticisms that other nations must face in the world community. Criticism of Israel's policies toward its non Jewish residents is not, as Friedman says, a rejection of Israel's right to exist. Arguing so makes communication impossible. There are real, vile anti-semites out there who deserve exposure and vilification. People who merely disagree with some of Israel's national behavior should not be branded anti-semitic.
7
Friedman claims to support some kind of two-state solution but is flabby in his opposition to West Bank occupation. BDS is directed specifically against that occupation, and against the maintenance of Gaza as an open-air prison. Without the rights of a state, Palestine is a bantustan and will remain so indefinitely. One state plus a bantustan or two does not add up to two states. Friedman wants credit for his tepid support of justice and equality in the middle east, while he undercuts the one instrument that will allow Americans to support justice and equality directly. BDS is doing what he should be doing, and lacks the spine to do.
4
Why would a Somali immigrant bother about Israel and Palestine when there are innumerable pressing issues for the immediate community in the 5th district? Studying the Somali conflict and the chaos of that failed country (produced by Islamic ideologies nonetheless and not by Jews) - one would think that she would focus on getting her community firmly into the middle class - pushing for jobs and education and reform and yet more reform in here own people - instead she chooses to pick a fight on Israel which ideally should have remained way above her pay grade - yet here we are.
8
Sorry to say, Tom, but Omar speaks what many of us think. The problem is that many hypocrites in our government - local, state and federal - find it convenient to align with Zionism and then call it Anti Semitism. It is absolutely irrefutable that pro-Israel neocons during the Bush administration beat the war drums against Iraq and supported the use of the WMD lies to promote that war. Subsequently, thousands of US citizens died, and multiples of them were wounded, in the never ending wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, Somalia and other Muslim lands. In the middle of this chaos, Israel has gained militarily and financially, while the US has not only shed its blood but also trillions of greenback. And where is justice when Israel has turned Palestine into a ghetto where the inhabitants are treated as non-citizens? Enough of the nonsense. I totally agree with those sympathetic with Omar having stood up and asked that all religions, not just Judaism, deserve to be named in any resolution!
12
It’s disingenuous for American supporters of Israel, including Zionists here, to denounce U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (Dem.-Minn) for failing to criticize Palestinian leadership’s refusal for not accepting Israeli terms for peace, which include the acceptance of Israel’s seizure of all the Arab Palestinian and Syrian territory Israel annexed in the past 40 years, as though her omission makes her “just another Aipac/Israel basher,” instead of having “humanist tendencies.”
Ilhan is not an Israeli-American dual citizen, and it ought to be clear by now that she’s not a humanist nor ought she to be one. In the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, each side wants the other side to lose a lot, not both sides to win a little, and both sides want to achieve a peace settlement imposed on the other side. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has never been between humanists and anti-humanists.
Critics of U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar’s (Dem.-Minn) have no right to compel her to share their political support for Israel, right or wrong, any more than she insist that her critics share her love for her native Somalia. Humanists haven’t any national loyalties, much less do they have dual allegiances. And they have never peacefully negotiated an end to any international conflict.
1
The pro-Israel lobby criticize and try to silence her because she threatens their attempts to sway politicians by any means necessary (and yes, that includes raising hundreds of millions of dollars in campaign contributions).
9
Let us hope that the good people of Israel will come together and rid themselves of the meddlesome (and increasingly corrupt and despotic) Netanyahu, who used to be such a nice guy. Perhaps he will end up in prison for actual crimes, but it is his political misdeeds that have helped create a backlash against Jews in general and have given voice to anti-Semites and other rabble around the world. He might claim (and be correct) that he has no choice but to get into bed with the worst elements in Israeli society--the hard right ultra-Orthodox who still live in the pages of the Torah and are like fanatics everywhere--in order to run a country, but if he is correct, then the entire Israeli experiment may be a failure. Ilhan Omar needs an education, for sure, but in her entire short life she has seen Israeli right-wingers at their worst, and has missed the breathtaking earlier promise that captivated American Jews and others in the 50's and 60's.
2
I have always understood B.D.S. to be a movement aimed at pressuring Israel to withdraw from the Occupied Territories, a goal I support, as do, as shown in the 2012 documentary "The Gatekeepers," six former heads of Shin Bet. Israel absolutely has a right to exist, just not on other people's land.
4
My question is why Rep. Ilhan Omar thinks that her right to her own opinion and free speech thus makes her qualified to spread tropes about Jews and money.
As Tom Friedman rightly points out, Omar is young and perhaps should do some listening instead of strong-arming the political discourse and making it all about her?
3
I just received the book, "Spies of No Country, Secret Lives At The Birth of Israel, by Matti Friedman. This book is about the infiltration into the Palestinian world by four outsiders who by religion, were Jews, but Arabs by where they were born, two in Syria, one in Yemen, and one in British Palestine. They had spoken Arabic since birth, and were immersed in the Arab culture, so they could blend in. In fact, the Netflix drama, "Fauda," which means," chaos," in Arabic, is created based on the underlying premise of the book, in that, half of the Jewish world has a birth in the Arab world. That is what Ilhan Omar doesn't understand, and should be educated about, Her position now, is not just important to those who elected her, but to the middle east itself, the Jews, and her people, and the future should be about helping create a real peace for all of those in the whole region. When George W. Bush went into Iraq, with a false report in 2003, both he, and Barack Obama, created more deaths, in the millions, more refugees in the millions, most of who were laid on the doorsteps of Europe, more cities, and villages leveled, and trillions of borrowed money, which created more chaos, more upheaval, for the whole region, and unfortunately, for Israel, as well. All of this actually contributed to more instability in the rest of the world, as how most countries now saw us, and the fact that they can now act out, being just as brazen, as we had been in the middle east.
1
The fact is, Omar has not referred to or singled out American Jews. She has been criticizing certain supporters of Israel and AIPAC, more specifically. Tom Friedman's comments about AIPAC and Republicans inviting Netanyahu before Congress to chastise our President support Omar's criticisms. The dual loyalty comment is not directed at Jews, but certain supporters of Israel, increasingly American Evangelicals. Her criticisms resemble anti-semitic tropes only to those who are not paying attention to her language.
The BDS movement has come into play because Israel, despite its rhetoric, is increasingly opposed to a two state solution. Despite what they say, Israelis support Likud. Netanyahu and other members of Likud have been opposing two-states for years now, and are content with a status quo which makes Palestinians in fact disenfranchised and oppressed "prisoners" within a Greater Israel. Nothing is going to change until the country becomes even more conservative than it is, when efforts to expel Palestinians from the West Bank will undoubtedly increase.
Israel doesn't receive greater scrutiny than other countries. Iran is criticized constantly, as are China and Russia. We have imposed sanctions against all of those countries at different times. Israel calls itself a democracy, self congratulates itself on setting an example for the rest of the world in innovation, and is the largest recipient of US aid. Omar is questioning that support.
4
Thomas, go interview her. I’d like to read or hear the podcast.
Love your writing.
Kelly
2
Thank you so much for writing this column, Mr. Friedman. As an American Jew who was horrified at the content AIPAC provided the first time it reached out to me, and every time thereafter, I echo everything you say.
2
Great column. One of Friedman's best!
Please, make sure someone email's this to Omar's office. She needs to read every single word.
1
Anti BDS legislation forced the firing of speech pathologist Bahia Amawi, simply for refusing to sign a pro-Israel pledge. That is a violation of America's still-relevant claim to be the "New World", where people work together despite ethnic differences from the Old World.
But I wish Rep Omar would oppose Anti-BDS without impugning the loyalty of supporters of Israel. Like you said, a "missed leadership opportunity".
“Americans’ affinity with Israel is rooted ... in a Judeo-Christian religious affinity....”
Mr. Freidmen, generally you articulated a cogent and fair opinion. However let’s not be coy, the degree of religious affinity between Judaism & Islam factually exceeds that of any Judeo-Christian affinity past or present.
It is English language assimilation and social/business alliances I.e. Americanism; developed over generations not religious similarities with any overall Christian identity.
3
This situation strikes me as the perfect storm of charged elements:
* The real and alarming resurgence of antisemitism, both in the US and in Europe.
* The US government's obsessional political support of Israel and the attendant hypersensitivity to any criticism from any quarter.
* Rampant racism against people of color, in particular Muslims, abetted by the rhetoric of the current president and his party.
* A freshman House member who wears a hijab and openly and sometimes artlessly speaks her mind.
These issues require nuanced discussion. Can we not speak and listen to each other with respect, without jumping to conclusions, accusations, and vilification?
1
I fear Tom Friedman is being unduly (and uncharacteristically) defensive when, in his article about Ilhan Omar, he declares, "I am not dual loyal. I always put America first." But we Americans have the privilege of having many loyalties. We are loyal to our families, our church, our civic associations. We are loyal to our favorite television series. Airlines tout their "loyalty" programs. Heck, there are even people who are loyal to Donald Trump [Michael Cohen excepted].
When it comes to countries, many are loyal to Great Britain for having stood alone against Hitler. Others are loyal to France for bringing elegance, language and culture to their lives. Personally I am loyal to my dog, who is pure German.
1
Thomas Friedman, you mention that everything you heard from Rep. Illhan Omar's leads you to conclude that she does not believe that the Jewish people have a right to an independent state in their ancestral home. There is nothing in your description of her statements or her actions that even gives a hint that she holds those beliefs. To make such a strong accusation, you need to give direct, detailed information that supports your belief. That is how an honest 'opinion article' should be written. You provide nothing. You mention her possible support for BDS but you do not state why that support is anti-Jewish or even anti-Israeli. Everyone I know who supports BDS also firmly supports Israel. As supporters of Israel, they want Israel to live up to higher standards of humanity. They believe that BDS might help achieve that goal. In the same way, millions of Americans despised our actions in Vietnam both because they felt compassion for the Vietnamese but also because they did not want their country to behave in such vile ways. That was more pro-American than supporting the war. Mr. Friedman's conclusions about Rep. Illhan Omar lack any basis in reality. After having read many of her actual statements, I am even more convinced that Mr. Friedman is wrong in his beliefs.
9
I don't find Ms. Ormar's vies troubling, or those of American Jews. They have a right to believe anything they want. What I find troubling is the alliance between AIPAC and the evangelical base of the Republican party. We should all be alarmed those who believe that by supporting Isreal can the Battle of Armageddon be hastened. It sounds insane but there are a significant number of evangelicals believe that through their support for what's going on in Isreal they will bring on judgment day.
5
Netanyahu like Trump is corrupt. These two imposters need to be removed from office and tried for their crimes - then perhaps an honest conversation about our political differences will carry more credence.
3
As an atheist and humanist - I am completely unsold on the idea that any religion “deserves” a state. Follow your various rules about praying, avoiding pork, avoiding beef, wearing turbans/yarmulkes/headscarves/long dresses/knives etc. - go nuts if you really think any of your Gods give a toot - as if eating and clothing could possibly matter to someone as divine and powerful as you think He is - but don’t try to run a state based on religion - whatever religion you are. I live in a mostly tolerant Canada - and it works out just fine for me.
5
As an American Jew, I support the BDS movement. As an American Jew, my "ancestral homeland' is Russia, Hungary and the Ukraine. As an American Jew, I am disgusted that the Israeli people keep electing Benjamin Netanyahu to be President. You cannot dislike Netanyahu and his policies and yet defend Israel and its people because those people VOTED for him.
I'm sick and tired of the demonizing of anyone with the temerity to bring up the twisted relationship between the USA and Israel and I'm sick of being told how we must support "the only democracy in the ME". It is no longer a democracy, that's why the BDS movement is so important.
Lastly, as an American Jew who pays taxes, I'm disgusted that so many billions of dollars are still going to Israel and yet the roads and bridges in my country are a disgrace.
Mr. Friedman, please sit down.
10
AIPAC is dangerous and the strongest lobby firm supporting the extreme right wing politics in Israel. Our politicians in both parties are spineless and coward. They are scared to death of AIPAC. Mr.Friedman is right but I disagree that Israel has democracy ? ( not for every citizen ).
5
The Jewish people demanded their "right to return" 2000 years after leaving - or being driven out from their original homeland. The Palestinian people - 750,000 thousand of them - were driven out of their homeland less than seventy years ago. Their demand of a "right to return" is understandable. Mr. Rabin was the only Israeli leader to understand their feeling and tried hard to create a genuine two-state solution. He was murdered for his efforts. Democratic leaders like Hilary Clinton have played up to AIPAC and promised to obey their demands just like the right wing republicans. The two-state solution is now a distant dream and some peace seekers are suggesting a one-state genuine democracy free from apartheid-like divisions.
US governments - whether Democratic or Republican - support Israeli governments however misguided and illiberal the leader. Oslo gave us hope but no US president had the courage to see it through. They pandered to Aipac rather than seek justice for both the Israeli and Palestinian people.
5
the reason that Israel is sacrosanct and people avoid talking about it is that the Jews have been picked on and murdered over centuries so just like today it is sacrosanct to speak harshly against people of color, it is sacrosanct to speak harshly about Jews.
Why would this concept be foreign to you, unless like Omar, and heaven forbid, let me throw the 'sacrosanct' out the window for a moment, she is an out and out anti-semitic individual. Now, she has the right in our great country to believe what she wishes yet not as a member of Congress. So, either educate yourself madam, or find another job. Or is it sacrosanct to even say that?
9
If AIPAC and its congregation of donors find it so terribly offensive to be accused of bribing American legislators, perhaps they should stop doing it.
Israel claimed America's, and most of the world's, sympathy and support due to the monstrous oppression and inhumanity orchestrated upon Jews by the Nazis. Israel was created by taking Palestinian land away by force, and the ensuing relentless struggle in the region over that displacement has resulted in hardened attitudes that demand absolute, unquestioning, unwavering allegiance to whichever side one is on. No matter what.
AIPAC and its satellites have followed this party line right off the cliff. They have conflated Judaism and Israel, and howl at anyone who criticizes the political entity Israel as being anti-Semitic in order to shut down debate before it can start. They have supported Israel's use of deadly force against unarmed demonstrators, its illegal and condemned expansion of settlements, its racist behavior toward Arab workers and citizens, its delaying and misrepresentation over the two state solution. AIPAC supported Netanyahu when he came to the US and colluded with the GOP to undermine our president and when he whined that the US hadn't given Israel enough free money. And they meddle in electoral politics to get rid of anyone who does not toe the line.
AIPAC is long overdue for criticism and redirection. Rep. Omar is right.
10
Jewish, creating a bunch of startups in Silicon Valley ... I can pretty much guarantee that you used some of software today -- another Jewish parasite who has made America greater than almost 100% of GOP (or Dem) politicians.
Like many, I'm not so much left or right, but going back to the founders, a dynamic balance of powers kind of guy. In fact, I think that should be the name of a new political party that seeks an ongoing, dynamic balance between gov and market. Maybe it's the "Hamaltonian" party.
Anyhow, I somewhat blame Aipac from aligning itself so firmly to the GOP. First, look how that Faustian bargain has decayed Christianity, second, IMHO, Trump is a sign of the end of GOP, not its strength.
On the other hand, what is Aipac supposed to do? Try less hard to advocate? Does that really work?
My fear, is that GOP makes any thinking person puke, but I'm not staying with democrats. Apologize as you will for B.D.S., they are advocating for genocide and/or forced exile for the Jews. Israel cannot make peace with the Palestinians. There is literally no move they can make except one:
Get rid of fossil fuel as an energy source. That will defund the genocidal governments and their many proxies (Palestinians are one of many) of the Middle East and a peace will emerge by itself thereafter. It will also solve global warming. Solar, wind, new nuclear generation, fusion. That's the peace plan.
Sounds like Friedman and Omar have virtually the same stance on Israel-Palestine - support a two-state solution, on BDS - accept the right of Americans to boycott anyone they want, but don’t support the end goals of BDS that eliminates the current state of Israel (not an official end goal of BDS, but ends up as one with with Right of Return of all Palestinian refugees), criticism of AIPAC - except Friedman has used much harsher language. From the link Friedman provided, his 12/13/11 column:
About Romney’s position on Israel: “That’s right. America’s role is to just applaud whatever Israel does, serve as its A.T.M. and shut up. We have no interests of our own. And this guy’s running for president?”
About Bibi: “I sure hope that Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, understands that the standing ovation he got in Congress this year was not for his politics. That ovation was bought and paid for by the Israel lobby.”
But Friedman is not an anti-Semite because he loves Israel, loves America more: “I always put America first, but I want to see Israel thrive — just like many Irish-Americans, Italian-Americans, Indian-Americans and others feel about their ancestral homelands.” He gets to say statements that are far more anti-Semitic about AIPAC because he sufficiently supports Israel.
Omar cannot make much milder statements about AIPAC because she does not sufficiently support Israel.
Omar is not an anti-Semite, she just dares to speak the truth about Israel and Saudi Arabia.
8
I have never understood how criticizing Israel and their policies automatically makes you anti Semitic. It's ridiculous - am I anti Muslim if I criticize Saudi Arabia?
9
Friedman, on Netanyahu's famous speech here, and AIPAC's involvement: "That really made me mad as an American. Netanyahu used our Congress to attack our president and further his re-election campaign. No other foreign leader would have dared to do that."
Exactly. It made a lot of Americans mad, including millions of American Jews. So why is it so horrible when Omar points out that expressing fealty to a foreign country shouldn't be a requirement for serving in Congress or being a Good Democrat?
I read what Omar actually said and wonder what this furor is about, Tom. (What she said, as opposed to everyone reading in, then lumping her in with everything else they don't like about these young whippersnapper liberals.)
Supporting her right to have this opinion doesn't mean we stop supporting Israel. (Even Netanyahu will go, eventually.) And it sure doesn't mean we're all anti-Semites. Remind me who is murdering Jews is American synagogues these days, Tom. Or who was chanting "Blood and Soil" at a Klan/Nazi rally. It's not people from our side.
5
There is a pretty obvious acid test to determine whether critics of Israel are fair-minded observers of the very imperfect state of Israel or rather nasty Jew haters (including self-hating Jews). Is their anti-Israel criticism out of proportion to their anti-Egypt or anti-Iran or anti-Saudi criticism? In other words, are they seemingly constantly obsessed with criticizing Israel for lesser sins than its neighbors? For Ilhan Omar the answer is pretty obvious. Note to Ilhan- you might want to think about criticizing Somalia instead- it's like shooting fish (or pirates or terrorists) in a barrel.
9
Why are Jews the only people in the world who "have a right to an independent state in their ancestral homeland"? Do Native Americans have a right to their ancestral land that St. Louis Park now occupies? To the land under your own house, Mr. Friedman? Do they have the right to take that land back by force of arms, and deport you to neighboring countries?
Spare us your hypocrisy. Not living by the rules you apply to others is not in the long-term interest of any group, including Jews. Bad behavior earns condemnation.
6
Is common sense dead? We cannot discuss certain topics, conservative or liberal, because of our hypersensitivity. Benjamin Netanyahu is an unscrupulous thug. Is it anti-Semitic to say that? No. Is it anti-Semitic to ask if Israel, one of the most heavily nuclear-armed nations, is the bully of the Middle East? Jews have suffered indescribable horrors, but is it anti-Semitic to ask if that justifies Israel's brutality against Palestinians? Race dominates our dialogue, to the point that we have language silliness such as "the n-word," even in serious, academic, non-racist discussions. My local police chief faces calls for his firing because he said more women are being assaulted partly because of their use of alcohol and exposing themselves to risk. Now he's accused of "blaming the victim." No. A woman has the right to safely walk naked through the roughest neighborhood at midnight. But common sense says, right or not, that's not a good idea. A 1950s editorial cartoon lampooning whether the U.N. should recognize China showed a monkey with a hippopotamus sitting on his tail. The caption: "How can I tell him to get off if I don't recognize he exists?" Let's think about that when censoring our debates.
5
“B.D.S. is just code for getting rid of the state of Israel.” While you're worried about “code,” Israel is actively destroying and wiping Palestine off the map - that's a reality, not code.
I believe in BDS against Israel, and against Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey, Russia, Myanmar, and countries with primitive, inhumane, theocratic, autocratic societies or governance.
I support clawing back the “$40 billion, 10-year military aid package for Israel” they do not need or deserve, especially as they insult the hard working tax payers giving them such largess in exchange for nothing. Indeed “not generous enough?’’ Ingrates - the height of arrogance and insult by an ally - a one way alliance of convenience. Adding insults to injury they impose their own conditions on us - thru Aipac.
Add Netanyahu's and Aipac's coordinated offenses against all Americans with their stunts while Obama was POTUS. Don't forget that Israel is the rare ally that receives billions and continues to spy on America.
Making matters worse now is Netanyahu and Aipac's alliance with an extremist Jewish party that is "an openly racist, anti-Arab party" - the Otzma Yehudit - with the blessings of Republicans, of course.
“an opposition party working directly with a foreign government [like Israel]” - you mean like the GOP is also doing now with Russia & protecting an anti-Semitic president.
Omar’s promise on BDS is no different than all politicians that mislead to get votes. Remember trump's healthcare for all?
2
Omar ought to turn her attention to the plight of women, gays, and any/all dissenters in the Arab-Muslim world who are subject to arrest, torture, and murder. How about helping to stop "honor killings"? Female genital mutilation? How about pointing out that Gaza shares a border with Egypt that also maintains a blockade?
And as a matter of grammar, why did Friedman write "Aipac" as instead of "AIPAC"?
13
OMG. This. Every word.
1
As nicely as he tries to put it, Omar is an anti-semitic hater of Jews and the State of Israel.
The Times has an article about an American woman stuck in Saudi Arabia with all of her personal rights taken away. When this BDS-supporting Omar starts talking about the Arab regimes that are far worse than Israel, I will listen to her views.
To me, she is an anti-semite, and should be relegated to the most ineffectual committee possible, and if her anti-Jewish comments continue, she should be expelled from the House, as I would hope and expect than anyone who persists in anti-black or anti-gay, or anti-woman, or anti-white comments would be.
7
Interesting how the liberal pro-Israel peeps are quietly adopting Israel's policy of pretending Gaza either doesn't exist or is now some kind of city-state. If it were Jews inside Gaza surrounded by an Arab army, I think Mr. Friedman would be singing a different tune.
7
I'm with Friedman on this one. And I am a Jewish skeptic of Israel and no fan of Bibi.
2
BDS is Constitutionally protected Free Speech
3
Thank you for not calling her anti semitic which has become a cudgel to beat people over the head with who have the audacity to criticize Israel.
2
“On Oct. 15, 2018, the day that Turkish investigators said they found evidence Khashoggi was murdered inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Ilhan Omar tweeted: ‘The Saudi government might have been strategic at covering up the daily atrocities carried out against minorities, women, activists and even the #YemenGenocide, but the murder of #JamalKhashoggi should be the last evil act they are allowed to commit.’ (She added a hashtag, ‘#BDSSaudi,’ apparently a call to subject Saudi Arabia to a ‘boycott, divest, and sanction” strategy of isolation’”
Doesn’t sound like a congresswoman obssessed with the misdeeds of Israel only or the words of an anti-Semite.
Ilhan Omar dares to speak the truth about Israel and Saudi Arabia and the undue influence all foreign governments - Israel, Saudi Arabia, Russia, China, etc. have on American politicians - that’s not anti-Semitic, that’s the truth.
17
When I was a little kid, growing up in the years immediately after Isreal's birth as a modern state, my parents were thrilled. Jews by the hundreds of thousands who had survived Hitler and his nazis finally had a home nation. Netanyahu, his Likhud Party and others on Israels's hard right are destroying that nation's character, reputation and moral standing. A terrible, ignoble, sickening shame.
6
Missing from the discourse is a phrase that will likely get this post banned: Islamic Supremacism. Indeed, Jews and Kurds are about the only two cultures in the Levant to survive Islamic Colonialism. Jews rose up and regained their own state. Kurds are trying to. As a result of being defeated in war over by Jews, their former dhimmi, supremacist elements in the Islamic world resorted to more military conflict, then terrorism, and now boycotts mixed with pseudo-intellectual "intersections" dreamed up between minorities in the USA and a homophobic and misogynistic theorcratic despotism in "Palestine"
Nationalist elements in the Islamic world, such as Egypt and Jordan, have made peace with Israel; as have Saudi Arabia and Oman and others (unofficially). Meanwhile, useful idiots for Islamic Supremacism in the west aid Islamic Colonialism by castigating Israel for its self-defense and seeing the use of human shields by Hamas as somehow Israel's fault, rather than a tactic of a weak yet still annhilationist colonial ideology.
Like all colonists, the Islamist supremacists otherizes those it seeks to colonize. That "anti-Zionism" has created a partial safe space for old anti-Semetic tropes is just a marker in the western left's shame in being unable to name or oppose Islamic Colonialism. Yazidis have no state, and thus were conquered by Islamic Colonialism's strong arm, the aptly named Islamic State. I eagerly await Ms. Omar's denunciation of the Yazidis' slaughter.
6
Is it at all possible that Ms. Omar is, in fact, doing all this purposefully, in an effort to make life miserable for moderate Democrats in competitive Congressional Districts? I think folks ought to be looking at this angle -- it's what Newt Gingrich did to get rid of the Bob Michels of the world, no? If you're a moderate Democrat in Congress, you got to be thinking seriously, "What's Omar's angle here, and why is Ocasio also in on it by strongly supporting Omar." Come on guys, it ain't no accident. Just saying . . . .
3
Being a Minnesotan I just want to chime in. I have seen Ms. Omar and think she is very nice and very pretty and that is about it. She has repeatedly struck me as just a fresh face who is very compelling without substance. We shall see what she ends up accomplishing. Keith Ellison basically handed the district over to her and the folks their love their progressives so her election was a forgone conclusion. She has made some pretty damning comments of late and will need to answer for them, but to her voters. I am angry as a Minnesotan that our elected officials (see Franken and Klobuchar) are constantly being called on to resign. Unless they have committed a crime or defrauded the voters, it is the voters who these folks should answer to and the 5th district should be respected and allowed to have their congresswoman prove to them she is more than just a pretty face and not piled on and piled on. We need to let elected officials live out their terms and answer to the people not political mobs. I am a Democrat and am tired of my own party pushing folks out for lack of perfection- I for one don't want a cultural revolution. We can choose our own candidates and then vote them out if they disappoint.
1
Thank you commentators. As a Jew, I needed to remind myself why I left the Democrat party. I will not bother with a history lesson as it's obvious the commentators here don't care about facts. I will only say two things:
Obviously no one is saying you can't criticize Israel. Just stop it.
And two, take out Israel, & fill in, oh, any other minority country with majority Brown people (Israel is majority from Middle East - expelled from their homes - and Africa). Include despots and dictatorships as well as democracies. Let's see, Pakistan, or Tibet, most Middle East countries (which didn't exist not too long ago as they were artificially carved up) or Russia or china for that matter. Just fill it in and see how it sounds to you when you say the exact same things.
To a chinese person: "Ah the classic 'ancestral homeland.'"
About Muslims, alleging a conspiracy theory about their donated money: "It's all about the Mohammeds, baby!"
To Afghanistan + Egypt + Jordan: "Let that sink in. $10 billion+ of our tax dollars...."
Or for anyone: disproportionate unbalanced criticism of the only black nation in the world for things literally hundreds of white nations do, and often far worse, is for some strange unfathomable reason seen as racist by black people. Obviously they're manipulative lying money grubbing racists.
All I can say to Jews who still have ears & eyes: Leave. The. Party.
5
Please provide me one example of a legitimate and justified criticism of Israel that is not considered anti-Semitic. "Tell me who you cannot speak ill of and I will tell you who controls you."
16
Well you may not share her views, Mr. Friedman, but I do. Criticizing Israel's occuation of Palestinian lands and AIPAC, the powerful Israeli lobby in Washington, is not anti-Semitic, it is anti-Zionist.
16
In the end, Israel will do what's it gotta do, regardless what anyone else thinks. When it stops being surrounded by countries that want to nuke it off the map, then I'm sure Israel might listen. Until then, it's all hot air.
11
Netanyahu treated Mr. Obama with disdain. Sorry but that says it all.
13
‘Americans’ affinity with Israel is rooted in a respect for Israel’s ability to maintain a democracy, albeit with flaws, in a sea of autocratic regimes; it is rooted in a Judeo-Christian religious affinity; and it is rooted in respect for Israel’s contributions to technology, medicine and science.’
Tom, you have neglected the historically and currently most significant reason for diaspora Jews’ affinity for Israel: Israel is the home of last resort for Jewish people who have faced genocide as minorities in others lands. And who terrifyingly face a growing anti-semitism worldwide as well as in an America that wannabe autocrat Trump has promised to make great again. Don’t forget that German Jewry was largely assimilated before the coming of Hitler. But back in 1933, there was no place that Jews had a right to call home when they lived as ‘guests’ in other peoples homelands. Today, Israel, warts and all - and there are many - is that home.
11
I'm confused. You castigate Omar for being an AIPAC-basher in the same space you yourself castigate AIPAC for holding back progress on Middle East peace.
It is perfectly possible to stand against policies of the Israeli government - as Mr. Friedman does - and not be an anti-Semite. I know this because it describes me. Is it her head scarf that makes the difference?
16
If she said "I do not think the US should support the right wing government of Benjamin Netanyahu, would that be anti-Semitic?
17
It's a touchy piece of business when people criticize Israel. Both here in the US and abroad. You should also try living in Germany and having this conversation: Immediately anyone who does is suspect. Let's face it, Bibi N. has thrived on exploiting this sensitivity about Israel and that's the point. He's masterful at engaging Nazi rhetoric for his own ends. He does not represent Israel. He's a deeply divisive figure and the sooner he leaves the political stage, the better. It's why I do support the BDS movement.
13
BDS founder Omar Barghouti is explicit about his goal to achieve a single Palestine that stretches from the Jordan river to the Mediterranean. He has said so openly in speeches and interviews, which are readily available on Youtube.
To support BDS is to support that goal, whether BDS' supporters understand it or not.
This means the end of the Jewish majority state, the only place on the planet where Jews can live under laws of their own making (smaller than New Jersey, by the way).
To criticize politicians, or particular parties is not anti-Semitic. To oppose Israel's illegal occupation of West Bank is not anti-Semitic. But to oppose the right of Israel within its pre-1967 borders to exist IS anti-Semitic. And this is precisely what both BDS and Hamas strive to achieve.
Hamas, in its 2017 Charter, rejects the the UN declarations that created the LEGAL state of Israel. BDS supports the same goal, to end its existence.
To support BDS is to support the annihilation of Israel.
Hamas Charter
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/hamas-2017-document-full
Electronic Intifada
https://electronicintifada.net/content/one-state-declaration/793
9
Here is the blatant double standard:
“Trump... He ran for president on a slogan laden with anti-Semitic associations from the 1930s: ‘America First.’ In 2015 he told a Jewish audience that ‘You’re not gonna support me because I don’t want your money… you don’t want to give me money, but that’s ok, you want to control your own politicians that’s fine.’
In 2016 he retweeted an image of Hillary Clinton surrounded by money and a Jewish star. He closed his presidential campaign with an ad that showed three Jews—Janet Yellen, Lloyd Blankfein and George Soros—alongside language about ‘global special interests’ that ‘control the levers of power in Washington.’
In 2017, he said there were ‘very fine people’ among the neo-Nazis who marched in Charlottesville. And in 2018, his racist fear mongering about a caravan of Central American migrants provoked a Pittsburgh man to commit the worst anti-Semitic atrocity in American history. Unlike Omar, he has not apologized for any of this.
If you denounce Ilhan Omar but support Donald Trump, you don’t really oppose bigotry. You don’t even really oppose anti-Semitism. What you oppose is criticism of Israel. That’s the real reason Republicans are so much more outraged by Omar’s tweets than by Trump’s. They’re not trying to police bigotry or even anti-Semitism. They’re using anti-Semitism to police the American debate about Israel.”
Quote from: Peter Beinart https://forward.com/opinion/419206/the-sick-double-standard-in-the-ilhan-omar-controversy/
15
Yes, Jews deserve to have a homeland in Palestine, but Israel is not Judaism and Judaism is not political Zionism. Judaism is eternal and modern political Zionism in the current State of Israel is secular and contemporary. Jews have lived in the Galut for 2000 years and had no state to govern and so are new at it and are still driven by the fear of the rest of the world returning to inflicting Pogroms on Jews still. Rarely in antiquity did ancient Israel/Judah occupy all of Palestine despite the Torah's Landnahme claims. Jews should reaffirm their true Jewishness that is being corrupted by political Zionism. Israel could solve its problems by befriending the Palestinians, God knows no Arab State does! They use it for their own purposes, just as the USA uses both to its purposes. But Jews are still, thank God, Jews and need to reassert its ancient and time-honored pursuit of justice in the world.
6
Omar is being boxed into a false impression of obsession with Israel.
She is constantly hounded about it. She has lots of other things to say on unrelated topics but no journalist or Israel supporter gives a hearing to those.
Israel is terrified of what happens if governments come into power in both the UK and the US that are not slavishly devoted to Eretz Israel. So they are pounding anyone who expresses the slightest doubt; seeing anti-Semites in every dark corner.
I have Jewish friends who have shown me the shared emails and media posts that reveal the disgusting depth of anti-Arabic racism in the diaspora and the domestic push to eliminate all Arabs.
Get of the foghorn you blind-loyal Israel supporters and look to your own house.
10
I have to agree with some of the writers here that T. Friedman, whose columns are usually outstanding, clearly sides with the camp that finds any criticism of Israel to be anti-Semitic. As others noted, he would have been better off sitting down w/the Congresswoman, which would have told him that she said a reasonable set of things in ways that---she ought to know by now if she didn't then---raised painful associations for Jews who've felt prejudice here in the U.S.
That Pelosi dealt with this in such an off-kilter, ham-handed manner amplifies the imbalance in our politics. It's not the end of the world when someone slams Muslims, or Blacks, or Hispanics, (or for that matter, Gold Star families and the free press), but Lord help you if you criticize Israel.
14
“Aipac is a self-appointed lobby”
Are not all lobbies self-appointed??
4
"...I strongly believe in the right of the Jewish people to build a nation-state in their ancient homeland..."
Through politics? How can you even consider that as anything but fantasy?
You want a homeland, as do many, many, MANY other cultures. What a religion-based homeland will get you is what it is getting you - bigotry, violence, misery.
I understand you see yourself as unique, but everyone is. Welcome to our melting pot.
6
Substitute a different nationality and I wonder how people of those heritages would feel.
Hey German-Americans, congress only pays attention to you because, “it’s all about the Benjamin’s.” You can’t really be trusted as Americans, because your first loyalty is to Germany.
Hey Irish-Americans, congress only pays attention to you because, “it’s all about the Benjamin’s.” You can’t really be trusted as Americans, because your first loyalty is to Ireland.
Hey Italian-Americans, congress only pays attention to you because, “it’s all about the Benjamin’s.” You can’t really be trusted as Americans, because your first loyalty is to Italy.
Hey Somalian-Americans, congress only pays attention to you because, “it’s all about the Benjamin’s.” You can’t really be trusted as Americans, because your first loyalty is to Somalia.
You get the idea...
5
"I see it coming from a congresswoman who seems to be obsessed with Israel’s misdeeds as the biggest problem in the Middle East..."
Maybe so. But there are way, way more people in Congress (and in the Opinion column of the New York Times) who are willfully blind to Israel's misdeeds. There are probably far more pressing issues she could be addressing, but I would like a lot more of her "how dare you say bad things about Israel you antisemite" critics to shut up before she does.
7
Omar is a game changer, she is not going away, as far as AIPAC , very dangerous foreign lobbyists, Israel to me is nothing more than a big giant religious theme park with nuclear weapons.
Tom,
did you ask, interview, Omar was she asked to serve loyalty to Israel to get on her committee?
Tom,
What’s your opinion of the S-1 bill just passed the senate 75-25? Now moving through the house.
5
I truly respect Thomas Friedman! But my deepest concern is the moniker "Frozen Chosen". This is the root of the entire Middle East conflict. My grandfather was a Polish Jewish man. I was asked to query at each Seder, each year in his home, the question "Why is this night different from all other nights?" The idea that the Jews are "God's chosen people" is an antiquated, egotistical, and a frankly disrespectful position to inhabit in a multicultural, connected world. The god that would choose one people group over ANY other should be FIRED! You should be ashamed to consider yourself "chosen". We are all equal and capacitated to inherit this earthly home. Reconsider your position sir.
9
Don't know why Tom Friedman has joined the radical right in ganging up on Ilhan Omar. To over react to something said, perhaps incorrectly, by a young first time powerless congresswoman, albeit of Muslim faith, is an easy target for bullies. Shame on Friedman for making such a big deal out of this.
12
Mr. Friedman, Americans affinity for Israel has greatly diminished for those of us who have watched the subversion of democratic principles by Netanyahu’s government:
https://theintercept.com/2019/03/03/breaking-the-silence-israel-idf/
Sadly, Mr. Friedman is correct that for many Americans, there is an affinity for Israel rooted in Judeo-Christian beliefs. In fact, the entire Mideast quagmire is poisoned by fundamentalists of the three great Abrahamic religions. Evangelical American Christians support Israel in hopes of effecting their end-times. Muslim fundamentalists distort the holy Koran and wage merciless Jihad against nonbelievers. Radical Orthodox Jews in Israel don’t even recognize the beliefs of their Conservative and Reformed fellow Israelis. And now Netanyahu has forged ties with what amounts to the Israeli Taliban:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/27/opinion/israel-election-netanyahu.html
Wake up, Mr. Friedman. Netanyahu and the people of Israel have abandoned the two-state solution. Netanyahu and his radical coalition aim to annex the West Bank and drive out any and all who oppose the conquest of all Palestinian territories. America’s unbreakable bond with Israel needs to be bent radically toward justice. Peace.
7
I stand with Omar!
8
In the United States special interest groups hire well-connected professional advocates to lobby for specific legislation in decision-making bodies such as the United States Congress. AIPAC like it or not, is one such special interest body and like the Saudi Lobby, the Canadian Lobby, the NRA etc etc AIPAC petitions Congress and the House to promote its view. As for the BDS so called sanctions - Mr Friedman nails it. The BDS movement is a wolf in sheep's clothing - stripped bare they are simply attempting to get rid of Israel by breaking it economically and socially. Fortunately they are pathetically ineffective.
4
I sincerely hope that Tom Friedman and Ilhan Omar end up endorsing the same candidate for President, but if they don't, I'll have who she's having.
6
Interesting how one minor political voice in congress has gained so much attention from powers we are told do not really exist. You are right about AIPAC, my mind has been changed and so has my vote going forward.
7
Jews have been treated as second class citizens, alienated and persecuted for centuries using a rationale that they are loyal to Israel rather than to the country they live in. If a politician cannot avoid using hurtful language, she should get a new job. And does she criticize the Saudiis and other repressive Muslim regimes?
5
Israel wants more land to accommodate new immigrants into Israel.
This land can only be obtained by expanding into the West Bank.
A Palestinian state means fixed boundaries and halts the Israeli expansion.
Annexing the West Bank and Gaza into Israel and giving all residents full citizenship and suffrage means Israel would no longer be a Jewish state.
So Israel's choice is to maintain its cruel occupation.
That is Netanyahoo's policy which is fully supported by AIPAC.
AIPAC wants no discussion of this policy and labels any discussion as anti-semetism.
Omar could have said all this without the Benjamin's nonsense.
5
There was no "dual loyalty charge." Are media elites deliberately getting this wrong? She questioned why people were suggesting SHE, and members of Congress generally, could not criticize the Israeli government or talk about the oppression of Palestinains. Anyone who has a problem with that, i.e. who thinks American politicians *have* to support the government of Israel, should be honest enough to say it without trying to twist any opposition to the Israeli government and its ongoing oppression of Palestinian people into "anti-Semitism."
8
Mr. Friedman make very good sense in picking apart the AIPAC and Ilhan Omar debacle. Having never heard Ms. Omar state her disdain for the Palestinian gov't and their belligerent and corrupt past and having now heard several of Ms Omar's use of anti-semetic tropes, she has clearly demonstrated that she is no friend of the long-term health of Israel. That being said, this is not intended to be an affront on Muslim or women or any minorities in Congress, as I welcome any or all open-minded, respectful people to Congress.
3
Substitute 'Bolivia' for 'Israel' in her comments and you have no problem. Not even an anti-Hispanic uproar. US politicians should not be in the business of forwarding the business of foreign countries unless it advantages US interests, much less be called biased when they do.
Friedman talks all around the content of Omar's statement.
7
Wow, what insightful reporting!
"Everything I heard about her leads me to conclude" is much more effective than talking to the person or actually reading what they say.
"I and many others believe BDS is code for getting rid of the State of Isreal", while admitting that ISN"T what they say on their website or in their positions. How very Trumpian. That's the Birtherism standard.
So you just spewing a lot of conjecture "that many people say" just like our beloved President.
Neither Rep. Omar or the BDS have said or done anything threatening Isreal's survival. You actually agree with their positions but still feel a need to try to label them as anti-semites and regurgitate right wing nonsense
You ought to be ashamed.
10
As a Jew, and Democrat, I hate to see the party going down the same slippery slope to anti-semitism that has befallen the Labour Party in the UK. I don’t support AIPAC, but the BDS movement targets the most progressive, democratic country in the entire region, Israel. Why aren’t there movements against the much more murderous regimes in Iran, Syria, or Saudi Arabia?
5
If it's not anti-Semitic, that doesn't mean that it's legitimate criticism of Israel. Comparing Israel to the Nazis isn't necessarily anti-Semitic, but it constitutes demonization.
Anti-Semitism is wrong because it demonizes Jews with half truths, distortions, conspiracy theories, and out-and-out lies.
Other, non-Jewish groups have been demonized for different reasons. For example, some people believe that privileged old white males, or black people, or socialists are the incarnation of evil. It is primal human nature to demonize one's adversaries, and there are many examples having nothing to do with Judaism. It is a survival mechanism, given that there really are genuinely demonic forces in the world.
Israel has been the subject of both legitimate criticism and demonization. It is easy to conflate its demonization with anti-Semitism, because the target population strongly overlaps, and it often is driven by genuine anti-Semitism. But we shouldn't hesitate to call out demonization, even and especially when it isn't anti-Semitic. Anti-Semitism, demonization of Israel, and demonization of other individuals and groups are distinct manifestations of the same thought disorder.
3
Why is Omar being constantly harassed for stating what's obviously true? US foreign policy is forgiving to a fault of Israel's misconduct toward Palestinians, and the unquestioning allegiance of some American politicians toward Israel hurts American interests. Omar's being harassed because she's Muslim.
It's to the everlasting shame of the Democratic Party that they're piling on in harassing Omar.
10
All we need to remember is how members of Congress, including Democrats, welcomed Bebe Netanyahu into OUR House of Congress for the sole purpose of berating and humiliating our sitting president. This included Chuck Schumer. It was a shameful day for this great country.
Our unflinching support of and for the State of Israel, no matter what they do, is without explanation, flawed, and wrong. Anti-Israel does not mean anti-semitic. The media needs to stop equating the two.
7
All good points Mr. Friedman. Now let us see you articulate on the Shatila massacre, the Palestinian refugee crowding and Israeli support of an Saudi Arabian dictatorship so that they can help throttle Iran and massacre Yemen in the process.
9
You are indeed swearing allegiance to Israel when you in any way support the Israeli government’s refusal to abide by common decency and the UN’s resolutions, from lying about its nuclear arsenal to settlement building. Don’t waffle.
I support the existence of Israel to exist within its post WW2 borders, or new negotiated borders. I believe all US aid should be cut off until Israel stops repeating bad history.
7
One important part that is missing in your reasoning that Israel ancestral right. Based on enough historical facts, Israel was established with the help from British empire by murdering and purging Palestinians from their ancestral lands. The origin and base of the state of Israel is not legitimate no matter how democratic the country is. Regardless of any religious teaching non-sense preached by hardcore Jews, Muslims or Christians about the land, there has been a major human right violation starting 1947.
4
Thanks Thomas Friedman for pointing out (what was clear already) that BDS and Ilhan Omar's ultimate goal is to dismantle the only democratic State in the Middle East and the only Jewish Homeland.
Where I disagree with you is on Aipac. Benjamin Nentanyahu is the current Prime Minister of Israel, elected by Israelis through their democratic system. Next month it may be Bennie Gantz or maybe again Netanyahu. Aipac's role is not to act as an Israeli voter but to foster the relationship between our Government in Washington D.C. and the Israeli Government in Jerusalem, regardless of Democrats, Republicans, Likud, Labor, Blue & white...
If Bennie Gantz is the next Prime Minister in Israel, then Aipac will stand behind him.
I am a proud supporter of Aipac and will be at its conference in Washington D.C. in a few weeks. You should come as well Thomas Friedman.
3
On the one hand, I do think Omar was being targeted. While I initially found it very hard to believe that she had never heard of the demonic-Jew trope (the international Masonic/Illuminati/insert-secret-cult-here conspiracy theories are practically embedded in western folklore at this point), her response to Bari Weiss' article on the subject struck me as very earnest, and she has come across as genuinely reflective in interviews since then.
However, the reason why comments like Omar's inspire so much panic isn't really about Israel or foreign policy. Too many people falsely believe that antisemitism began and ended with the Holocaust. The reality is that it has been a constant presence in the Western world for millennia. I can't count the number of cities that Jews have been expelled from at one point or another (they weren't dubbed "Wandering Jews" for nothing). The fact that Jews have been able to find a moderate level of acceptance in the US is practically a miracle, and American Jews are terrified of losing that.
I have Jewish ancestry, but have never identified with the faith. Yet as a student of history, even I feel my stomach drop whenever I see someone like Omar making off-hand comments that--knowingly or unknowingly--dips into antisemitic tropes. I am concerned that, in their effort to reform financial matters, progressives will begin leaning into the stereotypes of "greedy money-lenders" that have dogged Jews for centuries, whether intentionally or not.
5
Submitted when you had 167 comments and still you haven't seen fit to post this? Why? What conceivable objective reason could there be?
My affinity for Israel is long lost.
I grew up marveling at its feisty creation and strength. As I learned and understood more, and saw it brutally and deliberately bludgeon Palestinians as a people, invade and kill wantonly among its neighbors (or elsewhere in the world), and manipulate American politics and politicians, my feelings reversed. That doesn't mean I want or expect it to disappear. But I do despise its leaders and the fact that its people empower its leaders to brutalize, occupy and kill.
Regarding BDS, you strangely characterize it as some monolithic movement with clear objectives, and everyone on board with a single philosophy. I fully support embargoing and blockading Israel. But I do that as an aid to help the Palestinian people get their own state. I, and I'm sure millions across the world like me, resent your caricature of everyone supporting BDS as somehow being part of a "movement" with nefarious and underhanded objectives.
My suggestion? Stop wringing your hands on American friends of Israelis and Palestinians. Use your pulpit for specific action recommendations. You have long carried on about "what a tough neighborhood the Middle East" is. If being tough is somehow okay in your book when it comes to the Middle East, get tough with Israel. Now please.
6
If Ms. Omar were working with liberal Jews and others to promote her ideas about Israel, she would not be getting this kind of attention. Now, she's a media star. Kind of like our president.
1
I do not support the BDS movement either, but I support the right of Americans to participate in it as a component of their First Amendment right of free expression.
Urged on by AIPAC, powerful forces on the American Right seek to criminalize such organized support. This is one of the sources of Ilhan Omar's disaffection for AIPAC. Her disaffection is not only reasonable, it is also understandable and wholly legal.
Bibi Netanyahu is turning his country into an ugly caricature of intolerant oppression. That said, it should be remembered that Jews inhabited the Holy Land before Christianity or Islam even existed. Jews are hardly the interlopers there.
3
Absolutely agree!
Just look at the hundreds of dogmatic, critical comments about a reasonable, personal column from someone advocating a two state solution, and you'll see what the Israelis are up against.
4
I wonder how you all miss the point, Rep Ilhan Omar is praised as being "progressive" and "liberal" which supposedly explains why she objects Israel, but it's a lot simple that that. It's her background, being a muslim from terror-stricken Somalia (classified by the United Nations as a least developed country), she was raised with resentment and most probably envy of Jews and the Jewish state.
4
I read now that the resolution vote condemning Antisemitism has been suspended due to various factions within the Democratic Party now defending Ilhan Omar’s antisemitic bigotry.
The Democratic Party must be really intent upon losing the 2020 election.
5
Well said, I would like to add that in exchange with her supporters all claimed that they are against the two state solution and that J street, a progressive anti AIPAC Jewish organization, is not different from AIPAC and they would be satisfied only when Israel cease to exist regardless who leads its government.
3
Agree with some of the readers here that Mr. Friedman should sit down with Rep.Omar and start a serious conversation about our foreign policy in the Middle East. I guess Rep. Omar would have been in less hot water if she had called out the closeness between Trump & family and the murderous Saudis (who are the actual 9/11 terror perpetrators) who have a big lobby arm in the US and seem to twist US arms when needed. Just because she is a Muslim and she says something about the US policy towards Israel, the whole world is up in arms? Mr. Friedman can learn a lot more about our young politicians by engaging directly with them before taking sides on the issue.
5
Oh sit on it, Friedman.
You know better than most that AIPAC and "the lobby" continue to push the envelope (that's a metaphor, not an allusion to money) farther and farther, more so these days than in the past, and in so doing continue to get away with it, and get away with it without anyone calling them out, getting away with it without any question or criticism and labeling any opposition, real or imagined, substantial or inconsequential as "anti" Semetic. Eisnehower was the only one with the guts to stand up to these maniacs, even though he caved shortly thereafter. This, our nation, IS the United States of America. Israel is not the 51st state.
10
Omar illustrates the worst of the Islamic world. She's a religious fanatic nationalist complaining about religious fanatics and expecting no criticism of her actions in turn.
4
I wish Israel was one of the United States. That way they would have 2 senators instead of 100.
10
Omar represents a massive generational shift., not least among Jews, that is leaving Friedman and older Boomers behind. Thank God both Bernie and Kamala are backing Omar. As Peter Beinart brilliantly noted a few years ago, there is a generational crisis among American Jews. And where Israel is concerned, one among Gentiles,too. Israel will be lucky if its own geezerly Bibi is sent to jail, forcing Israel and its older Jewish supporters in America to face up to a new world in which, just as in South Africa before it, human rights and the quest for justice are going to carry the day against the literally dying powers that be in Israel and AIPAC-led America. When Shel Adelson and the American Jewish right embraced Fox, Rush, and Trump, they truly sowed the wind. Now--what a shock!--they will reap the progressive whirlwind. And of course charismatic Dems starting with Obama have long since Demonstrated that they can raise more than enough money to neuter right-wing Republican cash, whether from Adelson or the Kochs. Let's hope, for their own sake, Aipac and Lilkud are as tough-minded and realistic about the changing, and uncontrollable, American landscape that will be dominated by young progressives for decades as has been their boast about their Jewish mindset in general. There will be no steam-rolling these young progressives, who will soon easily outvote the ever more rapidly dying Boomer contemporaries of the Trump and Netanyahu crime families.
9
The congresswoman's problem is a common and grievous flaw in the ability to think. She believes that the root of all evil is the Jewish people. The barbarism in darfur and the genocide in ruwanda are ignored because her ilk subscribes to the proposition that the people of the third world are always blameless. The persecution of the Kurds is swept under the rug. The massacre of christians in Egypt , Lebanon et Al is something they studiously ignore. But the epic struggle of a few million jews besieged be hundreds of millions
6
It seems to me that Israelis treat Palestinians the same way Europeans treated Native Americans, and for the same reasons. We know how that turned out.
3
Well said there Tom! Kudos
4
I enjoyed and support your opinion. Only one issue with your last sentence "the good people in Israel and Palestine need."
There is no Palestine! Yet!
3
It's a good thing Mr. Friedman isn't the newly-elected congressman from St. Louis Park. His thoughtful - and harsh - criticism of Mr. Netanyahu and current Israeli disdain for the two-state solution would have some calling for his censure.
2
Very disappointing. After all the niceties and the beating-around-the-bush, when Friedman finally reaches the heart of the matter -- the accusations of Omar of being antisemitic, he makes the same factual misstatement that all her Zionist critics make: that she made reference to the "alleged dual loyalty of Jews". Could it be that Friedman didn't bother to listen to the recording, which is readily available on YouTube, before writing this article? Or is he just reciting pro-Israel talking points?
Omar's only reference to Jews in that hour-long meeting was her own Jewish constituents and their fears of antisemitism which she likens to other groups' fears. The much-criticized quote was taken from the part when she was talking about pro-Israel lobbyists, which is to say AIPAC, who are those that, as she alleges, promote allegiance to a foreign country. Whether or not one agrees with these allegations, it is factually incorrect to state that she was accusing the Jews.
It is very clear that Friedman disagrees with Omar on Israel, and it is sad that he needs to resort to baseless ad hominem accusations to argue his position. Imagine Omar accusing Friedman of trafficking in Islamophobic tropes as he attacks her views on Israel. This is not honest debate.
Whether or not one agrees with Omar's criticism of Israel and its supporters, any indication of antisemitism is in the minds of her accusers. Accusing her of antisemitism is just a sign of the weakness of their position.
9
will there ever come a time when I disagree with Tom Friedman? I doubt it. Once again he is spot on. He has a grasp of the Middle East equaled by a very few.
4
From first moment I saw Ilhan Omar on TV, I fell for her. She has an amazing appeal, which has a lot to do with her humanity. I was thrilled that she was elected to represent the lilywhite Americans!
I hope she will carefully read this column, and amend her prejudicial views.
I am an Indian American, came here in 1971. In my younger days unlike now, Indian govt. was "officially" supporting Arabs but most Indians were pro-Israel. We were ecstatic when Israel won the 6-day war in 1967, & about the Entebbe raid.
Since the 1973 war, I have been less satisfied with Israel. Ariel Sharon let the 1982 Sabra & Shatila massacre happen. Then Israelis elected him as PM.
True, Palestinians have been undermining their interests.
Hamas leaders only care about their aggrandizement & an enjoyment/intoxication out of their venom against Israel. They just don’t care about the poor, unemployed Palestinians, other than penalizing, even executing the ones who don’t toe the line. Nevertheless, they’re there. They need to be appeased, one way or another, which’s not impossible.
At this rate, I fear Israel may not exist as a Jewish state 50-100 years from now. If Hamas were more patient until they accumulated far more and still more lethal rockets, they would have inflicted real damage to Israeli civilians. Out of fear many may leave Israel. Then the fertility rate is so low among the Jews, which is disappointing.
Imagine the number of exceptionally gifted youngsters perished in the Holocaust.
3
How false and shallow Mr. Friedman. Omar supports not only the Palestinians but their ruling government Hamas a recognized terrorist organization. Hamas and the Palestinian people have always called for the elimination of the state of Israel and people called Jews from the earth, not just the area. Time and again, leftist liberal, utopian and wishful thinking ignores basic truths and opt only for that feel happy moment.
3
I have two big problems with Ms. Omar.
First, she apparently thinks Israel should be destroyed, and doesn’t care about what happens to the more than 7 million Jews and Christians living there. There doesn’t appear to be much daylight between her position and the position of Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran. (Not surprisingly, she also is aligned with Iran, Russia, and Cuba on the crisis in Venezuela.)
Second, she is dishonest about what she really stands for. If she thinks Israel should be some Judenfrei zone, let her say so. If she doesn’t like Jews or Christians, let her say so. I’m tired of the weekly nonsense in which she says something that is obviously anti-Semitic, and then claims ignorance and apologizes.
Finally, let’s be clear, anyone who advocates policies that deny Jews the right to self-determination in Israel and that for all intents and purposes call for the destruction of Israel, is anti-Semitic. As Martin Luther King astutely observed in 1968, “When people criticize Zionists, they mean Jews. You’re talking anti-Semitism.”
At some point people have to see Ms. Omar for what she really stands for -- not what people wish she stood for -- and stop giving her the benefit of the doubt.
7
Ilhan Omar is a freshman Congresswoman, acting like a freshman high school student.
4
Lobbyists seeking special favors for U.S. constituents within our borders are bad enough.
6
If I replace in your description of the BDS movement every occurrence of "Israel" and "Jews" by "Palestinians", somehow you get the position of the pro Israel lobby, like AIPAC and the GOP, that you implore on anyone, Rep. Omar in particular. Why is what is "respectable", in fact "required", when pro Israel, beyond the pale when it is pro Palistinians?Somehow antisemitism has lost its meaning and value by its overuse. For most it now just means criticism of Israel (which should be completely acceptable, even if you "feel" it should not be). And this is because it has been used as such by the pro Israel lobby as well as the Israeli right (which is now a large majority of Israeli politics) for decades. Quite frankly, I always have found this degradation of the term by its overuse by the right and Israel the biggest affront against the memory of the Shoah.
1
Thomas,
BDS, Omar, Iran, and all other Arab anti -Israel countries not withstanding; Israel will remain an independent state as per its charter. It’s ultimately up to the Israeli people how they want their Government to be structured. One state or two states? Apartheid or Democracy? I think we are all on the same page regarding Democracy and human rights. Sooner or later when Democracy and human rights are prioritized, Israel will look a lot like America. I’m guessing a lot of Jews here don’t want that. My hope is that in the future at some point, Democracy will trump religion everywhere!
1
Many Muslims are angry how the Israeli government treads the Palestinians. It is the media that flashes the violent in the West Bank and on the Gaza border. The situation at the moment is not good to both sides. And as an American Jews I don't agree with the Netanyahu government the way he handles the situation.
However, ninety percent of Muslims or Arabs killed in our time are by Muslims themselves, and that nobody from the "Elected officials" are addressing it. Nobody is bycuting the Syrian regime for killing nearly a half a million people.
The Muslims should look at the mirror, then they will see their enemy.
5
I’m with you on disliking Netanyahu. He has turned many Americans against Israel.
3
Israeli supporters, try this: Go to the library and look up, say, 15-year-old articles about Israel and read the comments sections. Oh, the times they have changed and are a-changin' still: Just as young Republicans are not even half as homophobic as their parents' generation, Americans are steadily, and negatively, changing their attitude toward Israel. It will happen that "change" will "catch" like a bicycle chain. After that, who knows: In a dream, I saw History wearing red socks putting on her shoes backwards .
1
Speaker Pelosi's punitive vote targeted at Congresswoman Omar is ill conceived.
Criticism of Israel's Likud-inspired harsh anti-Palestinian policies is not anti-Semitism.
Criticism of Israel's corrupt prime minister is not anti-Semitism.
Criticism of America's slavish devotion to Israeli policies, which are often at odds with US national interests, is not anti-Semitism.
3
For a NYT columnist of your clout, I would have thought you could pick up the phone, or at least email the Congresswoman, to have a conversation on a very important topic. Try it next time. Let's use engagement to understand each other and stop interpreting Twitter feeds.
1
Omar will single-handedly flip Minnesota red in 2020, and she will be a millstone around Klobuchar’s moderate neck.
The feigned Islamic modesty, Hijab as fashion symbol, combined with Lycra designer jeans, is a mockery to those who had tried to be open minded about her background.
More “diversity,” but less tolerance.
Just another big ego in the capitol.
What else is new?
5
If it wasn't for Omar, you would not be writing about this issue so prominently.
1
I think Mr. Friedman is lying to readers or deluding himself if he thinks America's bond to Israel is due to Israel's democratic, freedom loving society.
America's current embrace of Israel is based on the fanatical Evangelical Christians Rapture ideology. A strong Israel must exist for the return of the messiah. Nothing about democracy, nothing about freedom, nothing about mutuality against Arabs.
Ultimately, the Evangelicals want Israel destroyed- by an act of God- so there ends the loving relationship.
6
Bibi isn't the problem, Israel is. Yes the Jewish people have a right to a homeland; they just don't have the right to dispossess and subjugate in order to obtain and maintain it.
6
I, too, am of Jewish background and grew up in the USA but I do not see Israel as my "ancestral homeland" as Thomas Friedman does ,stating....." I always put America first, but I want to see Israel thrive — just like many Irish-Americans, Italian-Americans, Indian-Americans and others feel about their ancestral homelands" Yes,maybe once upon a time the area of Israel was my "ancestral " homeland but that is quite a stretch for MANY Americans of Jewish heritage. And if that is the case, then we should all be feeling this way about East Africa. My family came over from German, Latvia, Switzerland and Russia and before then who knows where they originated from as I understand at least one of my great great greats was born in Spain. I admire Jews for surviving through the thousands of years of persecution and of the country of Israel for persevering over the decades against the hatred from surrounding countries .... BUT I am very sad that the country seems to now have turned to the same thug like mentality that those who in the past have used against Jewish people. I do not have answers but it seems to me that Friedman and others seem more focused on Rep. Omar's comments because she is a Muslim person.
1
No level of love between Jews and Arabs in America is going to be a bridge builder for peace in the middle east as long as Israel colonize the West Bank while making Palestinian life alike home detention in a war zone. Israel use of collective punishment is shameful and Omar is right to be mad about it.
2
I believe Tom Friedman is seeing the concept of Israel as envisioned by the original Zionist leaders and the founding fathers like Ben-Gurion or Golda Meir or Moshe Dayan as opposed to what Israel is today. Who would have guessed Likud would have morphed from what it was like under Menachem Begin to what it is like today under Bibi Netanyahu.
Tom, I suggest you take off your rose-colored glasses and do a reality check about the state of Israel. Israel isn't Exodus the movie. It is real place with real problems not the least of which is Bibi Netanyahu allying himself and Likud with the Kach party. If Bibi is reelected the founding fathers will turn over in their graves.
1
Come on, Tom, why don't you interview her and have a thoughtful conversation - instead of parsing various snippets from hither and yon. I'll bet you have enough cachet to land the interview. Go for it!!
4
I stopped reading at "ancestral homeland." Palestine is lots of people's homeland. Events from ancient myth do not justify human rights abuse today.
7
https://www.britannica.com/event/Balfour-Declaration
The Balfour Declaration, issued through the continued efforts of Chaim Weizmann and Nahum Sokolow, Zionist leaders in London, fell short of the expectations of the Zionists, who had asked for the reconstitution of Palestine as “the” Jewish national home. The declaration specifically stipulated that “nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine
1
Quite jarring to see the name Peggy Orenstein included in the same sentence as other "uniquely tolerant" people such as Al Franken and the Coen Brothers.
Thank you Thomas Friedman for speaking for the large segment of American Jews who not support either Aipac or JStreet but hope a middle path of understanding or at least conversation exists.
3
From what I can tell, Aipac is little more than a business networking group with the alleged purpose of supporting Israel; it's primary goal is not to support the people of Israel or Jewish people throughout the world, but to render Israel a safe and secure place for their investments.
1
Thank you. I completely agree with your opinion piece. I am sad that Congress is having a hard time condemning antisemitism. Any other group they would not think twice in condemning hatred. Nothing much has changed. It's always the Jews.
4
Wait, so it's ok for Jews to be "loyal" to Israel and for "Irish-Americans, Italian-Americans, Indian-Americans and others..." as well? But for Latino Immigrants, we don't assimilate fast or sufficiently enough (remember Tom Brokaw's commentary)? What lame double standard! And yes, our government unilaterally supports the oppression and repression of the Palestinian people, which again is a double standard! If you're calling for Rep Omar to be 'fair' let's call it for across all issues, not just those that relate to Israel.
2
Great article.
1
Hey Tom,
I grew up in Minnesota too. I agree that St. Louis Park is kind of an unusual district in its makeup within that state. In fact, I recall an incident when at a high school hockey game, bagels were thrown at the St. Louis Park players. In essence this was done to heckle them and throw them off their game. The other side found it funny. Was it off-color? Yes. But, in the media response to the incident, one would have thought it harkened to the final solution. Juxtapose that to your tortured criticism of Omar. Could it be that if you espouse the elimination of the “white male patriarchy” that has defined the United States (freedom, the free market, clean water, sanitation, roads, bridges and a functional society dontcha’ know) and in turn rally for an open boarders, browner, more perfect socialist utopia akin to a combination of Venezuela, Zimbabwe and Somalia… Well then you have to be treated with kid gloves at the New York Times? You betcha.’ Anyone else and you'd be guns blazin'
She's not talking about American Jews having a dual loyalty to Israel and the U.S. She's talking about Republicans having a dual loyalty. That may be anti-Israel, but it's not anti-Semitic.
5
Almost there Mr Friedman
Instead of delving into inconsistencies of policy statements - perhaps you could look at her actual words in the past few weeks and discuss whether the subsequent umbrage is justified. One does should not have to be Jewish to criticize Aipac; one does not have to be antisemitic to question Israel.
You may not like the fact that she suggests that Jewish Americans may have divided loyalties - so deny it and move on. She is wrong - but there should be a dialog otherwise that will go unchecked.
If you seriously want to Israel to make progress through American government support, there needs to be a honest and open discussion within Congress; but so long as members react so aggressively to every perceived misstep, that will not happen.
48
@Gerard
You may not like the fact that she suggests that Jewish Americans may have divided loyalties - so deny it and move on. She is wrong - but there should be a dialog otherwise that will go unchecked.
Also: she didn't suggest this. She suggested that she resented or resisted people pressuring *her* to have divided loyalties. She said zero about Jews having divided loyalties.
Please look up what she actually said/wrote/Tweeted, and/or read Paul Waldman's column in the Wapo about this.
1
I agree with this article, particularly its most salient point: Netanyahu and Likud are an existential threat to the existence of the State of Israel. Enemies of Israel promote the lie that it is an apartheid state, but unless Israel can somehow extricate itself from the West Bank, that lie will become true.
The West Bank is properly part of Arab Jordan, occupied by Israel after the 1967 War. If Jordan won't take it back, a two state solution is Israel's only hope to survive.
19
Jordan is properly part of Palestine. The majority of Jordan’s population is Palestinian. Jordan is the Palestinian state.
3
@GrannyM
Ahistorical nonsense. The so-called ‘West Bank’ (aka historic Judaea and Samaria) is most certainly NOT properly part of Arab Jordan, and never was. Following their 1948 military attack against Israel, the Jordanian occupation of territory west of the Jordan River (including Jerusalem) was illegal...as in ILLEGAL. Nevertheless, after the Jordanian defeat in 1967, Israel was willing to negotiate that territory in exchange for peace. And guess what? The Jordanians rejected the land offer...they didn’t want it!
3
@GrannyM
The west bank is disputed land, as it legally didn't belong to any Palestinian entity, and Jordan Illegally seized it in 1949, along with what the UN wanted to be the eastern part of an internationalized city of Jerusalem.
1
I thought her stance was on a foreign influence and a specific lobby group, AIPAC, on our policies. She was more than justified to criticize. As far as the Decrats go, for a party that endlessly railed against Trump with a false Russian/collusion interference in our elections for over two years, you'd think they'd get it. But coffers need filled, and fear, keep most all of them subservient to a foreign power. Should Congress have to register as a foreign agent? No doubt. In fact, serving the people seems to foreign to them and their even crazier Republican counterparts.
23
"I always put America first, but I want to see Israel thrive — just like many Irish-Americans, Italian-Americans, Indian-Americans and others feel about their ancestral homelands."
Would you deny the Congresswoman — a Palestinian-American — the same right to feel about her ancestral homeland as you do about Israel? ...who happens to be behaving very heavy-handed over her homeland because the West took the Palestinian deed and gave it to Israel at the end of WWII.
The thing about BDS is that a person can support the idea of Boycot, Divestment and Sanctions--- much like what happened with South Africa— without signing up for whole enchilada. After all a person in the US can be conservative about taxes and spending without selling their soul to the likes of Donald Trump.
37
She is not Palestinian American. She is Somali American.
2
She’s not a Palestinian-American. She was born in Somalia and lives in Minnesota. I don’t believe she’s ever visited Israel.
2
@Hedd Wynn We expect Trump to condemn white supremacists in MAGA caps, even though that’s a very small number of his supporters. Why are Jews expected to tolerate a movement with openly anti-Semitic members?
3
First the things that are not the same but important. You are male, older, extremely wealthy, and have had an opportunity to speak with many noted people all over the world thus making your name and opinions well known. Her biography must be looked up by many Americans, but she's getting her name out there. Instead of fighting why not try this suggestion:
You say Ilhan Omar has never been to Israel so why not plan a trip together and you both can explore both sides; Israel and Palestine together and have your journey filmed. You can explain Israel to Ilhan and she can show you what her issue is with the condition of Palestine. This would be a supreme act of bravery for both of you. And that's what the world needs to see. Learning and understanding by being on the ground together in an act of gaining knowledge, sharing knowledge and finding common ground, maybe a solution or 2. I have respect for both of you even though there are differences and similarities. I hope you both think about such an idea. I would love to see such a documentary.
56
@peonytiger Yes, let's see how Rep Omar, unlinke Mr. Friedman, is treated upon arrival in Israel. Even though she is a member of Congress, I wager that would not protect her from the targeted humiliation, threats, and harassment that is routinely heaped upon some arriving Americans by the Israelis. If she supports Palestinian human rights or BDS she will no doubt be turned away. So much for that supposed democracy in the ME.
2
Yes, and perhaps AIPAC can facilitate this. It is part of their mission statement to bring about understanding. Freshman congressional reps are routinely granted trips to Israel for this purpose. But civil dialog is the best at creating understanding, not free junkets. The author of the opinion is trying to do that, with some success, but I feel the quotes used to show disagreement with the author’s beliefs are misconstrued, and in fact they can be read as supportive.
"By being specific about the rights of Palestinians to return to their home and not unequivocally committing to a two-state solution, the movement leaves me and many others to believe that B.D.S. is just code for getting rid of the state of Israel."
The BDS statement explicitly invokes UN Resolution 194. The Resolution specifically limits the right of return to “refugees wishing to return to their homes and live at peace with their neighbours . . ." That is, Palestinians who do not accept the legitimacy of Israel do not have rights under the Resolution.
So, no, BDS does not support the elimination of Israel.
29
I often agree with Friedman but he has it wrong on Israel. The US and it's citizens should NOT support a state like Israel that is based on membership in a particular religion. It goes against one of the most fundamental ideas in our Constitution - separation of church and state.
What we should support is a ONE STATE solution where all people in the area have equal rights and can work for a common good.
In my opinion, it is already one state. I mean how long can Israel occupy by force of arms the West Bank and still maintain that Israel has not simply annexed it?
Jimmy Carter had it right. A single state is the only solution.
34
It is a Hewish State and was established that way. The Palestinians have been offered a state multiple times including 1947 and rejected this. Why doesn’t this count. Please review your facts .
3
Oh so Muslims have tons of Muslim nations with religious law and government, but God forbid Jews want one safe sanctuary in a world that has slaughtered Jews for millennia? There are tons of Christian nations in this world too-so many European countries have a national religion. Yet we cannot have one safe space to flee to when Christans and Muslims start murdering us again?
3
@Blue Dawg
Religious dominated societies, whether maintained by Muslin, Jewish, Hindu, Christian or any other religious majority, are incompatible with democracy.
1
It sounds like Friedman is saying that there are some very bad people on both sides...
6
Omar's statement was inappropriate in its tone and wording. That being said, the meaning behind it - that Israeli lobbies in the U.S wield undue influence in American foreign policy that is not always in the best interest of America itself. Their are many occasions where we are the only backers on certain Israeli policies, especially when it comes to the treatment of Palestinians, where virtually all our democratic allies around the world disagree with us. In addition, no country comes anywhere close to get as much foreign aid from the U.S. as Israel.
And as far as a Middle East Peace Plan, if anyone ever thinks Israel is going to give Palestinians land back while they have continued to build settlements for decades, I have a nice bridge to sell you.
15
I think Tom isn't applying his normally rigorous analytical sense in this case; he might be right, but he makes some serious allegations about Ms. Omar without much proof.
That said, his final para merits rereading and much thought, but citizens and our representatives in Washington,be it on this or other foreign policy issues:
Which only reinforces a fundamental rule I have: I love the Israelis and the Palestinians, but God save me from their American friends. When they recreate and fuel their conflict here in America, and on college campuses, they only sow more division, distrust and make things worse. And that’s the last thing the good people in Israel and Palestine need.
5
Mr. Friedman engages in wishful thinking when he thinks that Rep Omar and the Palestinian issue can be rationally addressed if only Israel had a rational, humane, approach to the Palestinians and advocated a two state solution with the Palestinians. Prime minister Ehud Barak tried that approach and it only led to massive rioting by the Palestinians, egged on by Yassir Arafat who saw Israels's flexibility as a means of achieving a one state solution - run by Palestinians. Prime Minister Sharon withdrew all Israeli settlements from Gaza and the result was not peace and justice but Hamas. Netanyahu, in turn, released many jailed Palestinians with blood on their hands to facilitate two state negotiations with the present Palestinian leadership. but to no avail. Sorry, the road to peace lies with the Palestinians and no one else.
23
I have to thank Mr. Friedman for his article, which helps me to understand many pieces of the arguments from both sides. I can't say that he's 100% right or wrong. But I'm betting it's somewhere in between.
My worry with Congressperson Omar is that she seems as naive as she is new to her role. She also does not often seem to review her thoughts before spewing them. And I also wonder if she understands the adage that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
Thank you Tom for again pointing out that she has many incredible, logical opportunities for doing some good, if she can control her words better.
12
Friedman is actually a little too gentle in his critique of Omar's "dual loyalty" comments when he compares it to Irish- Americans and Italian-Americans etc and simply affirms that we are all Americans first. While the Irish and the Italian immigrants came to America in the face of hardship; they were never as a people faced with systematic genocide, no homeland, and an indifferent world. That is a historical reality, a FACT, that no American Jew can forget.
As a Jewish and liberal (JStreet) constituent of Omar I am disappointed and pained by her apparant insensitivity to this unique reality. It is worth noting that Keith Ellison, her predicessor, was supportive of JStreet and included a JStreet member on his congressional staff. Omar has yet to build those bridges despite considerable outreach from the liberal Jewish community which is her constituency.
12
Tom, I very much like your article and your efforts at dialogue. I went to high school at Benilde in SLP, although I grew up in Edina which I realize counts for several strikes against me. I do recall a Palestinians visiting Benilde in the early 70s to explain their own perspective. My great aunts lived on Zarthan Ave in SLP and like my grandmother were Pennsylvania Dutch Wises or Weiss that part of my family coming from Alsace Lorraine to York, Pennsylvania predating likely 1776 and far before my Irish potato family ancestors. I rather suspect that the Weiss' were at one time Jewish and am eager to explore this family history.
Further discussion from you is necessary around BDS as I am not sure we can assume they are against the nation state of Israel. Also more discussion of the human rights abuses perpetrated by early Israelis in driving Palestinians from their homeland would help.
At the same time I am uncomfortable, like you, with Representative Omar's insinuations about allegiances to the homelands of our ancestors and would certainly support these for her and Somalia. Similarly, I would rather her have her zero-in on human rights abuses and Israeli policy toward Palestinians and Arabs, distinguishing between those and anti-Semitism. Perhaps because I suffer from terminal MN nice (not always bad) I wish to see a continued dialogue between you and Rep. Omar resulting in not only understanding and respect but actually cooperation toward justice.
5
Ms Omar can of course say, tweet and declare whatever she wants, this is a free country - but the more she does it reminds me of that toxic cocktail mix of youth and idealism: zealotry. The freshness of her youth may have helped to get her elected, but with it came not an ounce of political acumen, subtlety, nuance, or pragmatism. The "benjamin' statement was a whopper. There is a way to criticize Israel without seeming to condemn and stereotype Jewry - she has yet to find it and it is in my opinion she will continue to dig herself into a deeper hole. She has blinders on and is not capable of seeing beyond them.
5
I quite appreciate the sincerity and whole-heartedness of Friedman's views. However, like so many well-intentioned American Jews who believe in a peaceful settlement between Israelis and Palestinians, I fear he has been living in 'cloud cuckoo land' far too long. The reality today and for the past 18 years has not been one of efforts by Israel to offer any kind of peace to Palestinians. Rather it has been a sordid and brutal history of repeated horrific punitive expeditions that have pummeled Gaza and the West Bank using a full range of weapons or modern warfare supplied and funded by the USA and its western allies. Israel even has the largest nuclear arsenal in the Middle East - that includes submarines, bombers and missiles, An arsenal now larger than that of the UK or France - but undeclared under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NNPT) which Israel alone - unlike Iran - has been allowed to avoid signing up to without sanctions. For 20 years, annual surveys of Israels by the Israeli security services show over 60% believing in a first strike capability. Now, the entire Israeli political establishment - not just Netanyahu and his followers - seem to believe in only a "one state" solution. The Gaza economy has been intentionally crippled by Israel's 12 year blockade. Israeli settlers routinely attack Palestinians and destroy their farms with impunity. This is not a world where reason prevails - only the Hobbesian view that might is right. Mr Friedman, please wake up!
13
When is PEACE finally arriving in the Land that has been considered Holy by three monotheistic religions ?
I am an atheist and a pacifist and I consider all this perennial fighting inhuman, immoral and anachronistic.
Let it be PEACE
2
I'm not sure why so many Democrats are focused on Israel bashing, representing the Palestinians as the perpetual victims. Many so-called Palestinians have immigrated to Israel because the pay and standard of living there is superior to that in neighboring Muslim countries. I doubt whether one Israel basher in 10 could tell you that "Palestine" was never a country but rather an invention of the British during their occupation of the region.
13
Congresswoman Omar clearly has picked a side, in this fight. When she made her first anti-Jewish remarks, after being elected, I saw that as a mistake, early in her tenure. Now, 4 or 5 statements later, she is showing a pattern. I don't recall any apologies. Now, these are not accidental mis-statements.
As such, Congresswomen Omar and Talib are causing the Democrat leadership to "do some fancy dancin'". I recall how Congressman King was catapulted out of favor for saying Western culture has given us much of value. Not really a cross burner, if you know what I mean. The Republican leadership was fast and deliberate.
The Democrat leadership is acting like a small dog, in a large yard, trying to catch some squirrels. Lots of running, some barking, but not much getting done.
I say it's time to get a new dog.
7
Mr. Friedman, I agree with your concerns. I suspect that Rep. Omar has made some of her comments due to lack of knowledge and understanding of the history of the region and also of Judaism. Have you reached out directly to her? I would be interested in reading an interview and discussion between you and her.
9
I don’t believe that the criticism of Israel should automatically be condemned as being anti-Semitic. And - yes - AIPAC appears to be creating a perception among some people that there may be divided national loyalties amongst American Jews, and, that they have an undue influence on the rhetoric, policy positions and votes of our politicians.
That said....I question why there isn’t the same vehement outrage regarding the plight of the Rohingya. Is anyone calling for a boycott of products that are manufactured in Mynamar? My opinion but - at least with some people - I think there’s at least a tinge of ant-semitism that is driving their criticism of Israel.
6
@Joe Thomas " Is anyone calling for a boycott of products that are manufactured in Mynamar?"
Is there a law against your doing so, I think is the issue.
Who from the Myanmarese community is writing checks for $30 mil to get their embassy moved?
1
If, as you write, Mr.Friedman, you support a religious government for Israel founded on Jewish primacy in civil life then I'm afraid I'll have to part ways with you.
I'm also terribly dismayed at your lack of belief in the First Amendment as an ideal that all governments should be civil bodies and not religious bodies.
I'm certainly at a loss as to how you could claim to support it and write this article.
14
The problem remains: in this country, no person who is not a Jew can criticise Israel or AIPAC without being labelled anti-semitic by fervent supporters of each. Rational discussion is thus nearly impossible. Ms. Omar is understandably having a little trouble navigating this minefield. From 30,000 feet, however, there is little difference in her attitude toward the Israel/Palestine issue and Mr. Friedman's. I hope they become friends, they are soulmates and I love them both.
6
As Jon Stewart noted many years ago, any Jew who criticizes anything Israel does is quickly labeled a self-hating Jew. For that reason I keep my mouth shut on this very topic although I will say that I detest Netanyahu. He does not represent the Jewish ethics I was taught as a child.
1
What this article correctly picks up on is that the the discussions surrounding Israel and the Palestinians are nuanced issues. And, that the rhetoric used against Israel is deemed acceptable when couched as criticism of either (i) policies of the government (which for most Americans stop at their limited understanding of the Settlements, the different types of Settlements and what they are and are not) or (ii) their leader who, good bad or indifferent is not a dictator, as are all the leaders of the countries surrounding her, but one who keeps getting elected by Israel's citizens (i.e. the people who are most affected and know best who will help them prosper and stay safe).
However, it's the narrow and laser focus of BDS and Ms. Omar on the ills of Israel (as Mr. Friedman points out), which is perfectly acceptable but which is really a proxy for denying Israel its right to exist as a Jewish State, that makes them anti-Semitic. There are 20+ Arab/Muslim states that have cleansed their countries of Christians and Jews and do not allow other religions to even exist. Yet they never get any criticism for that or face "apartheid" claims. Yet the one Jewish State, and the only one in the region that not only allows but protects ALL religions (as well as their religious institutions and history) faces unrelenting and nasty criticism for being a Jewish State. THAT is what makes these comments anti-Semitic, not the discussions of the country's policies.
11
I wonder if Tom and Ilhan will actually talk. Common ground between the two would be common sense.
We have to be more forthright with Israel that we won't abide bad behavior. That doesn't take away our brotherhood. All misdeeds no matter how small will be accounted for.
5
Kudos to Ms. Omar for putting AIPAC front and center in the debate on American foreign policy. You "don't like" AIPAC, but the total of your high-minded criticism over the years has never laid a journalistic glove on them. Ms. Omar wants to change the way our foreign policy is conducted, and yes, reduce the role of the Israel lobby. This one young woman, raising the mere suggestion that the lobby is buying influence—which it most certainly IS—is already paying, and will continue to pay, a heavy political price, which only goes to show the truth of her statements re: the oversize influence of AIPAC. I applaud her courage, and I fear for her.
11
Still, criticizing the Israeli government is not anti-Semitic any more than criticizing the American government makes you anti-Christian.
If what you think she said is anti-Semitic, I suggest you read Phyllis Bennis in The Nation, Rebecca Vilkomerson in Newsweek, and Paul Waldman in The Washington Post, among others.
5
How patronizing! Ilhan Omar sounds like a highly intelligent and charismatic legislator. I see absolutely nothing that she can learn from this overripe wedge of Camembert.
10
Representative Omar is an evidently conscience-driven person who shows no hint of prejudice as far as I can understand. Wanting to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian division should be reason for conversation, not recrimination.
8
If you oppose Trump's Muslim ban, you must also oppose BDS. The two operate on identical principles.
Both assume guilt by association: that because someone is a citizen of a country whose policies you dislike, you will punish the individual (refuse him/her the right to travel, to speak, to publish, etc.).
And while neither overtly names religion -- Trump actually singles out several nations, not Muslims -- in both nationality is a clear proxy for religion.
BDS supporters who oppose the Muslim ban are hypocrites. BDS opponents who support the Muslim ban are hypocrites.
8
Every politician has a responsibility to ensure that criticism of Israel does not cross over into pushing anti-Semitic tropes and conspiracy theories. But the flipside is that particularly now - when Israel is governed by an increasingly corrupt, authoritarian, ethno-nationalist coalition - criticism of Israel, its political lobby, and its leadership should not be dismissed out of hand as anti-Semitic or illegitimate without good reason. In this case, where is the evidence that Ms. Omar does not believe in a Jewish state? And when did she accuse Jewish Americans of dual loyalty as opposed to expressing an objection to being essentially forced to express loyalty to another country herself, as a congresswoman?
10
Is it Islamophobic to impose sanctions on Iran? Or to label Saudi Arabia as a state sponsor of terrorism?
7
It has been known for years that Netanyahu is a thug. And we have one of our own as well. So while they are in charge there will never be a Two State solution.
I have always admired the Israeli people. When I was younger I was enthralled at how they seemed to believe that Democracy was the only solution to the World's problems. After all they had been through in World War II especially. And now it seems as if Democracy has become an inconvenience for those in power.
It mirrors exactly what the Republicans are doing over here.
Democracy for some, but not for all.
Congresswoman Omar is using her bully pulpit, as is her right. But I do not know how this will help the Palestinians at the moment, as it gives more fuel to those who are anti-semitic to continue their hateful rhetoric and it will reflect badly on the Palestinians by extension.
I wonder when we all will get to the point when we accept each other, our cultures, skin color, gender, religious beliefs or non- beliefs we are condemning ourselves to perpetual war. I guess prejudice is more important than our basic humanity.
Until we all start accepting each other as brothers and sisters under the skin, we will never stop the warring.
4
I would much prefer to have Rep. Omar speak her mind freely rather than be muzzled by her party. Her true character will reveal itself over time, whether its a legitimate concern over a lobby powerhouse like AIPAC or some deeper antipathy towards Israel and Jews. Its much better to shine a light on her prejudices (if any) than have her conceal them from and the voters that elected her to Congress.
3
"And one issue she (Omar) seems to have seized on is the alleged dual loyalty of Jews to America and Israel."
Absolutely and utterly false. Ilhan Omar's statements that are being twisted into this interpretation involve her saying that *she* didn't think she should be pressured into supporting Israel, or having "allegiance" to Israel.
She didn't say, or write, a word about Jews having allegiance to Israel. She was talking about her.
And if you don't think that AIPAC pressures members of Congress to support the government of Israel -- well Thomas Friedman admits in this column that he does believe that they engage in exactly that.
Like many others, Friedman has taken the right-wing smear and regurgitated it without questioning whether what's being accused even happened the way it's being portrayed.
Yes, I know that he was trying to be magnanimous, but he failed, totally.
10
Which Israel are we taking about? All of the people, including the non-Jewish that are citizens? A particular party of Israeli politics?
From what I read the Israeli citizens have more rights to be critical of Israel than any American, particularly elected officials.
And what of the Israelis that are openly critical of the USA and are also members of their government?
Ilhan Omar isn't alone in America. She is just one of the very few who is openly critical.
10
I disregard everything Friedman says after his love letter to MBS, the butcher of Saudi Arabia. He has experience and connections that should have warned him off that route. The very young and inexperienced Omar is, I hope still learning.
2
It's objectionable when outsiders, be they Ilhan Omar or Jeremy Corbyn, antagonism toward particular Likud/religious party policies like West Bank encroachment, Gaza isolation, and denegration of the status of Israeil's internal Arab minority is extended by coincidence or intention to Israel itself or the Jewish people generally. But then, what exactly has been the project of Likud and the religious itself, if not to fabricate and entrench the very same identification of those very same narrow ideologies and policies with Israel itself and the larger Jewish people. Likud's undeniable success has consequences, like them or not.
3
Here's a question for everyone: can we agree on the following general principles?
1. It's OK to criticize the Israeli government for its actions in Gaza/the West Bank. (One can argue about the level of criticism that is warranted--a lot or a little or none, but it's fair game.)
2. It's OK to criticize American support for the Israeli government given those actions in Gaza/the West Bank. (As above--fair game.)
3. It's NOT OK to say that support for the Israeli government (or involvement in AIPAC) constitutes "allegiance" to some foreign country on the part of American supporters of Israel.
It's fair to argue, "I don't think it's appropriate for the US to support Israel. The Israeli military has committed war crimes and settlement construction contravenes international law, and we as Americans have a duty to oppose such behavior."
But here's where Rep. Omar has repeatedly stumbled: it's not fair to argue that people who support AIPAC (or do not criticize Israeli actions in West Bank/Gaza) are somehow disloyal Americans. By suggesting that people who support Israel have some dual loyalty or financial reasons for doing so, she makes it impossible for herself to be taken seriously in terms of actually arguing against the Israeli government's behavior by invoking those classic anti-Semitic tropes.
5
Friedman makes an intriguing point when he says that because the BDS movement web site focuses on recognizing the rights of Palestinians--and not endorsing a two-state solution, Friedman infers, "that B.D.S. is just code for getting rid of the state of Israel."
The policies of the state of Israel have been to marginalize and eliminate the possibility of a viable Palestinian state. He surely knows this. And as someone else noted, with the present state of affairs, Israel can be a Jewish state or a democracy, but not both.
I see far too many parallels between apartheid South Africa and the current situation with Israel and the ongoing repression of Palestinians--The US would surely be up in arms literally if the two were reversed. We'd be doing everything in our power to make sure repressed Jews had their human rights recognized--but the reality is Israel gets US support regardless of its actions. It has a nuclear bomb and the most powerful military technology in the Middle East.
It's hard for me to conclude that because BDS doesn't take a position on a one or two state solution "that B.D.S. is just code for getting rid of the state of Israel." Because getting rid of Israel isn't the question--the question is whether Israel will be a democratic majority Jewish state with a second viable Palestinian state OR Israel will be a blend of Jews and Arabs living together in a democratic state. By my view BDS is saying we need to oppose the current state of affairs.
5
What's left out of the coverage this controversy is the role of Christians -- especially those who believe that Israel must exist as a state in order for Christians to be "raptured." I do think there's a pro-current-Israeli-government lobby in the US that disregards the interests of most Americans. I do not believe that most members of that lobby are Jewish. I use the word lobby in its most generic sense, not as a synonym for AIPAC. AIPAC plays a role in advancing support for Netanyahu in the US & conflating such support with being Jewish, but the most fervent supporters of Bibi are Christian & they seem to be as animated by anti-Muslim feeling as by their reading of Revelations.
Politicians & pundits talk about a "pro-Israel lobby" sloppily, without making reference to the pro-Christian-apolcolypse nature of a majority of its constituents. I suggest more acknowledgement of who makes up the so-called "pro-Israel" lobby should be the NYTimes standard. Consistently doing so would clarify whether this is a wholly ethnic issue or just a variation on extreme right wing themes.
3
Political leaders that are blindly supported by religious fundamentalists are dangerous to world peace. That includes both Netanyahu and Trump.
4
@Jefflz Does that also include Ilhan Omar & Rashida Tlaib?
2
She dares to criticize Israel. Some of her rhetoric may be off base, but there is a discussion that needs to be had. Let's not choke it off by demagogy.
3
Most commentators seem surprised and shocked! that Americans like me, and apparently Rep Omar, are not supportive of the policies of Israel's government, the dog whistle support conjured up for Israel by the farthest right wing of American politics, and the fact that we American taxpayers pay for Israel's military.
I am also very against the slaughter the Saudi military is inflicting on Yemen, the fact that it's the most repressive society in the Middle east, and the dog whistle support supplied by the American right. Doesn't make me anti-Arab.
As an American citizen, it's apparently easier for me to visit Jerusalem or Tel-Aviv than it is for an Arab living behind Israel's "wall".
10
For there to be a two state solution the palestinians will have to accept a secure Israel which has never happened. The 1947 partition was a two state solution as was Ehud Barak's plan at Camp David during the Clinton administration. Ariel Sharon dismantled the Gaza settlements. Israeli troops are out of south lebanon. The Hamas is a radical Islamic group that is dedicated to Israel's destruction and Fatah seems content with boycotts and UN resolutions that serve no real purpose except to delegitimize Israel. So you really have to be clear about who the negotiating partners are going to be for this two state solution. There were anti israel student protests and on-campus anti-semitism long before Bibi got elected and it wasn't caused by AIPAC. It was caused by a fundamental rejection of ANY kind of sovereign Jewish state on that land which continues to this day.
9
What I want to ask Rep. Omar is: What do you think about Egypt asking the Israeli Air Force to bomb the Sinai last January? What do you think about Israel spending over a billion dollars on a Red Sea Canal to insure water for Jordan? What do you think about Egypt closing its border to Gaza? What do you think about the ongoing normalizaton of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel? Because I get the distinct impression - with Israel as her target - that she hasn't fully grasped the geo-politics of the region. Meanwhile, the only result of her taking aim at Aipac - is a growing divide amongst Democrats. Trump must be delighted.
11
Friedman’s delicately-worded defense of Israel's legitimacy is striking: "I strongly believe in the right of the Jewish people to build a nation-state in their ancient homeland"; "..I want to see Israel thrive — just like many Irish-Americans, Italian-Americans, Indian-Americans and others feel about their ancestral homelands."
An odd locution (and reasoning). The implication—which Friedman does not quite state, though many have--is that if you don't support the right of the Jewish people to build a nation-state in their 'ancestral homeland', you are anti-semitic. Well, good news for the Catalonians, Basques, Royinga, Yazidis, Kurds, Urghurs, Native Americans, and any other ethnic or religious group that has an ancestral homeland--i.e., all groups, everywhere: they deserve their own states too.
Friedman’s other 'ancestral lands' (which I prefer to think of as 'nations') do not award superior citizenship and rights to one religious or ethnic group over another. Jews in Italy and Ireland are equal citizens to Catholics. But Palestinians in Israel (who are also living in their 'ancestral homeland') are not equal to Jews as citizens.
If you accept this basis for national legitimacy, and don't also support nationhood for Kurds, Catalonians, Basques, aren't you also anti-Kurd, anti-Basque, anti-Catalonian etc?. Supporters of Israel who frequently accuse its critics of employing a double standard--and of course, of anti-semitism--might want to think about that.
13
@Peter G. There's solid logic to your ideas. But time and history matter. I believe, as someone with part Jewish heritage, that the Holocaust looms large over these issues. One could argue that Native Americans experienced tremendous loss of life and lands during both North and South American colonization, so deserve homelands. This was the reason they were given the little bit they have. But at the time, 150+ years ago, moral empathy was poorly developed. European Jews were integral to 20th century Europe, which suddenly murdered them. It's recent trauma, and huge. In Arab countries this history is often ignored. Muslim-Americans like Omar understand the Holocaust, however. It's too painful for mainstream audiences, perhaps, but it's the key to building bridges.
1
As an American I admit to being somewhat confused by this discussion. If I follow the logic condemning Israel for adopting policies prejudicial to Palestinians equates to anti-Jewish posture. Does this mean condemning Iran for statements threatening to Israelis equates to an anti-Muslim posture? Is adopting an anti-Israeli posture the same or different from an anti-Iran posture? What might make it okay to take an anti-Muslim posture but reprehensible to take an anti-Jewish posture? As an American raised on that separation of Church and State stuff I have no problem with viewing Israel as a pariah state consisting predominantly of perfectly decent and pleasant Jews just as I see the United States as a fundamentally decent nation-state with a significant population of morally-objectionable Christian zealots.
My problem with the Friedman essay is captured by his thinking beginning "not Iran's effective occupation of four Arab capitals". In effect he shifts the discussion from status, i.e., state or religion, to behavior. Omar in effect focuses on Israeli behavior towards Palestinians as including violence and apartheid. I do not think Friedman embraces apartheid and violent repression. If Omar supports B.D.S. she is supporting non-violence resistance so where is the problem? In effect Friedman seems to argue we should counter Iranian behavior but accept Israeli behavior because one country is predominantly Muslim and the other is predominantly Jewish. Not American values.
3
Frankly, while I really like Jews, I think the government of Israel has lost its way. No, they are not one in the same. Do we wish to be considered the same as Trump and his treatment of people of color? Would the founders of the state of Israel even recognize it now?
Be very careful about framing the grabbing of Palestinian's land as part of Israel's right to its "ancestral homeland". That phrase has a history. It makes Israel look like it has become the monster that it feared.
It is entirely possible to want Israel to succeed while also wanting it to stop the oppression and terror of innocent children and women in the occupied territories. Bullying is never pretty and killing unarmed people is never morally right.
3
It is a fact that Jewish youth in the US are taught to love and support Israel because it is their ancestral homeland, not because it is a key strategic ally in the Middle East. They are taught, from a very early age to feel allegiance, yes ALLEGIANCE, to the State of Israel.
This became very obvious to me when as a 7 year old child during the 1967 Israel/Arab war I heard close relatives of mine seriously discuss whether or not to board a plane to Israel to take up arms beside their Israeli brethren to fend off the invading Arab armies.
Representative Omar has wondered outloud if a sizeable portion of the American Jewish community can be fairly viewed as acting in ways that indicate more allegiance to Israel then to the US. I fail to see any semblance of antisemitism in her statements.
The overreaction of the American Jewish establishment to Representative Omar's statements only serves to lend support to the validity of her claims.
9
I approach the issue from a different, personal aspect. That is numerous Muslim countries around the world, quite a few, meet out the death sentence for gay men and/or impose harsh penalties against lgbtq community. Israel supports lgbtq rights genreally, democracy and certainly does not abuse womens' rights the way many Muslim nations do. So, yeah, we should support Israel until these Muslim nations catch up to what it means to have equality.
5
Jerusalem values over Mogadishu values.
Every day of the week.
7
Maybe the reason Americans support Israel is that Israel is an ally that acts justly in the face of a gamut of murderers in that part of the world?
Maybe it’s because Americans admire a small country with the gumption to make things happen when other allies just loaf around and complain?
Maybe Americans remember that Israel was sounding the alarm on terrorism way back in the 1970’s or got rid of actual WMD in Iraq before the US even realized it was a problem?
Americans don’t support Israel due to AIPAC. It’s the other way around. AIPAC, and CUFI which is far bigger, lobby for Israel because Americans support Israel.
We abhor societies that enslave women, murder gays, and enforce Islam. That should come as no great surprise. We are also willing to employ resources to counter countries that wish our demise.
When Omar speaks in defense of these backward civilizations, we should shutter that a member of our congress would invite an orientation despicable to American values.
8
When Boehner invited Netanyahu to speak, Obama should have turned around and invited Tzipi Livni to speak. That would have 1. Put Boehner in a box of either admitting the invite was political or inviting Livni to show he wasn’t being political. 2. Invited a broader discussion of what the Iranian nuclear threat was about. At the end of the day, democracies are supposed to be about dialogue. 3. Given Livni a chance to show her credentials on a world stage – which could have helped her party have a better change against Netanyahu.
3
Well said. When I see it coming from a congresswoman who, to my knowledge, has never criticized the Palestinian leadership for its corruption and failure — time and again — to seize on peace overtures from Israeli leaders who, unlike Netanyahu, actually wanted to forge a two-state solution, when I see it coming from a congresswoman who seems to be obsessed with Israel’s misdeeds as the biggest problem in the Middle East — not Iran’s effective occupation of four Arab capitals, its support for ethnic cleansing and the use of poison gas in Syria and its crushing of Lebanese democracy — it makes me suspicious of her motives.
8
She will not be reelected along with Ilhan.
Of that you may be sure.
These two are the most vituperative representatives of the bash Israel any time, any way.
As you point out, these two never criticize any of the terrorist and dictatorial deeds of the Palestinians.
Ilhan is Palestinian and draped herself in a photo with the Palestinian flag upon being elected.
Speaking of dual loyalty.
Anyway, this is just the beginning of the end for these two.
Time will tell.
They are becoming a major liability for the already divided Democratic Party especially if it wishes to win in 2020.
6
@simon sez You're confused. She is Ilhan. Her name is Ilhan Omar. She is not Palestinian, she is an American of Somali birth. There is a Congresswoman who is an American of Palestinian heritage, but she has a completely different name.
P.S. Being proud of where you come from is not dual loyalty.
How many times can it be said?:
Being anti-Israel or anti-Israeli policy is not Anti-Semitic.
This has now become another "trope".
The problem is confounded by the fact that Jews are also an ethnicity (or ethnicities), as well as a religion, and for some, a national identity (Zionism).
3
The current problem is that the enemies of Israel are using the heavy handed reprisal tactics of the Likud Party to form a successful international propaganda war against Israel. They know that as long as acts of terror are occurring inside Israel, Israeli voters will continue to keep the Likud Party in power, to fight fire with fire. Labor Party is weak.
What would happen if Israel completely withdrew from the West Bank tomorrow? The same thing that happened to Gaza. Anyone living in the West Bank who is perceived as not hating Israel will be dragged out of their house in the middle of the night and executed. A terror organization funded by foreign countries would take over the West Bank which will now be used to stage attacks on Israel, just like Gaza. Those foreign powers don't care about the Palestinians. The Palestinians are outcasts everywhere they live. The existence of Israel to the foreign powers is just another European Crusade which they are prepared to battle for 1000 years if necessary.
The solution to peace in the Middle East is not between the Israelis and Palestinians. The Palestinians have been living under occupation since the Muslim partition of Palestine was invaded by Jordan, Syria, Egypt and Iraq in 1947. It is not going to get better for them any time soon. The solution to peace in the Middle East is between Israel, Iran and Saudi Arabia. Let's focus on that impossible picture. Then things will start to get better for the Palestinians.
4
Sadly there is no coherent honorable solution to the problems the creation of the state of Israel bequeathed.
Friedman says:
"I strongly believe in the right of the Jewish people to build a nation-state in their ancient homeland..."
Where does this right come from and what are the rights of the people who were there when the Zionists arrived and the British Mandate dissolved in chaos?
If the Jews are entitled to their ancient homeland why do I or Mr. Friedman have any right to live anywhere in the Americas? We and the overwhelming fraction of current Americans must leave so that the native Americans can have it back.
Sadly, the only rational argument the Israelis have is the same as the ones my ancestors had when they got here: "we won, they lost, get used to it."
At this point decent Americans or decent Israelis ought to be trying to figure out "how to just get along." Israel seems to be making almost no effort at that.
Friedman trails off into a long spiel of whataboutisms comparing "Israel's misdeeds" to those of Iran, Assad in Syria ... none of which have anything to do with Israel's treatment of those under its occupation.
Seriously Mr. Friedman, you are usually much better than that.
The fact that the "argument" descends to this is a measure of Israel's problems, and the lack of a more coherent ethical defense.
5
Thank you Mr. Friedman for writing this article.
1
Glad to learn that Thomas Freeman found solace and satisfaction in the way neighbors from the suburban area his family moved to accepted the new comers.
It wouldn’t be asking too much, if all the same voices that are expressing vitriol against their interpretation/ extrapolation of what Rep Omar has presumably said, would denounce Steven Miller’s racist campaign against Central American refugees. Given the silence from Jewish organizations and prominent Jews, one can only conclude that what they’re saying is “rights and privileges only for me, not for thee“. It smacks of hubris which, btw, people around the world are seeing thanks to social media and the Net.
3
Wrong: AIPAC is bipartisan, with a tremendous progressive outreach.
Right: She has never been to Israel, yet she has so much hate for the Israelis and American Zionists.
5
Politics and religion! Tribalism and democracy! I grew up with them. I can still say, old as I am, that I've spent more of my life in Ireland than elsewhere. I have strong opinions about Irish politics, and have no compunction about criticizing some politicians harshly. That doesn't make me anti-Irish. In fact, I think it makes me more Irish because I want what in my opinion is the best for Ireland and all its people. I criticize American politicians too. Some with minds of challenged width call that un-American. It's not. And criticizing Israel's military and foreign policies and land-grabbing in Palestinian areas does not make me anti-Semitic. Darn thing is, as I understand it, Arabs are Semites too.
722
@Des Johnson
Yes, Arabs are Semites. The majority of Ashkenazi Jews are not. And even if they were, it's pathological to think that, after thousands of years, they somehow have the right to annihilate upwards of a million Arab natives of Palestine and displace millions more in order to create their "Jewish Democracy." Zionism is a racist, supremacist endeavor to the core. The history of Jewish persecution, which is real but largely overplayed for its own internal interests, doesn't change that simple fact.
51
@Des Johnson Amen!
19
@Des Johnson
It is always the tribes that are most alike that gravitate into being foes.
24
I agree with much of this article. However, I think it would be wise for Thomas Friedman to arrange to have a sit down with Rep. Ilhan Omar. He might find that they are much closer than he thinks. In terms of the BDS movement. Although I don't support it for some of the same reasons listed by Friedman I think the movement to suppress the speech and rights of people and organizations that do support BDS is a frightening assault on our 1st Amendment rights and is totally un-American. One has to admit that the BDS movement in South Africa did play a large role in helping that country break down the walls of apartheid. Who is to say that such a movement aimed at Israel may ultimately be successful in stopping the expropriation of Palestinian land and may ultimately lead to the two state solution that both Friedman and I would like to see come about. What I do know is that if Rep. Omar keeps getting smeared, if Democrats keep sticking a knife into their own without admitting to the validity of much of what she says and if the free speech of Americans citizens and congress is suppressed we will have failed to live up to our ideals as a nation.
782
@Wayne Fuller
Every time Israel offers to end the occupation, the Palestinians say “No!”
Even Prince Bandar bin Sultan of Saudi Arabia (certainly not a Zionist) said that Arafat’s refusal to accept the January 2001 offer was a crime. Thousands of people would die because of Arafat’s decision & not one of those deaths could be justified.
As Clinton later wrote in his memoir:
It was historic: an Israeli government had said that to get peace, there would be a Palestinian state in roughly 97 percent of the West Bank, counting the [land] swap, and all of Gaza, where Israel also had settlements. The ball was in Arafat’s court.
But Arafat would not, or could not, bring an end to the conflict. “I still didn’t believe Arafat would make such a colossal mistake,” Clinton wrote. “The deal was so good I couldn’t believe anyone would be foolish enough to let it go.” But the moment slipped away. “Arafat never said no; he just couldn’t bring himself to say yes.”
49
@Wayne Fuller
BDS is a conscious decision to hurt people. 575,000 Iraqi children died from sanctions. BDS makes no attempt to distinguish between the innocent & the guilty. Hundreds of Palestinians have lost good jobs because of BDS. Not even one Palestinian has been helped by BDS.
In South Africa, it was the killing of 14,000 white people & the defeat of the white South African army by the black Cuban army that had much more influence than any sanctions.
12
In a way, there is an absurdity. One the one hand Israel must be militarily powerful and internally secure to survive. On the other, the state in an effort to preserve itself, takes actions primarily against Palestinians, and frequently reduces the Palestinians to a second class. For Omar to be effective, she must recognize Israel's right to defend itself while offering legitimate criticisms. The issue of course is not new. But the inflammatory comments of people as Omar do not advance the discourse, and in fact undermine their credibility.
12
@Van Wyck Wilson...
We have been listening to our Jewish friends for quite a while now.
It is more than time that we begin listening to our Muslim friends as well.
We must always make sure that our investment in religious freedom doesn't get transposed into an investment in religious tyanny.
2
Shooting unarmed women. children and medical personnel hardly seems self defense.
3
Well said. Rep. Omar is not representing all of her constituents with evenhandedness. Perhaps she is genuinely opposed to Israel's right to exist, perhaps not. Perhaps she isn't an advocate for Jews in the same way she desires to be for other groups in her district. That might even be understandable. But, some of her public statements, surely, must have been made with the intention of causing a huge stir. She may be new to Congress, but not to politics, having served in the Minnesota Legislature. She's entitled to her views and her voice. But, she ought to consider first and foremost the district she represents and the voters who sent her to Congress. She owes all of them at least that much - not only her friends and the groups she likes.
10
Congresswoman Omar is a very courageous woman for questioning the dominant paradigm.
24
Thank you for this excellent article, Tom Friedman. I agree with you. As an American who is also Jewish, born immediately after the Second World War, I feel strongly that Israel has a right to exist. I do not like the right-wing direction of Israel's current government any more than I like the right-wing direction of America's current government. I want Israel to be a fair and democratic nation, and I want America to be a fair and democratic nation. I understand the plight of the Palestinians, and I also understand the problems that Israel faces from people, organizations and countries that want to wipe it off the face of the earth. I would like to see a fair and equitable two-state solution that would recognize the legitimacy of the State of Israel and also accommodate the need of the Palestinians for a country of their own.
9
@Janet Wikler
Of course, any Arab or Muslim national leader agreeing to such a relationship with Israel would be, like Sadat, exterminated at the behest of so many Islamist elements that a sea of hands would go up with people saying, ''I did it!''
Isn't it odd how it is always the losers of wars demanding that border lines need to be redrawn, never the winners.
1
I am sort of bemused at the amount of flaming going on about a newbie member of Congress. As with AOC, Omar is new on the public stage. Give her chance to learn . It is not as though either of them can single-handedly change US government policy.
Omar (and AOC) both seem to be people with integrity (in short supply on Capital Hill). I am sure there are quite a few points where I would disagree with both of them but I want to see more intelligent, honest people in Congress. In the long run, they may change their minds on some of these issues... And maybe I will change mine. :) We need politicians of integrity and good will with a diversity of opinions. In the long run that is what makes democracy work.
13
In joining national politics Ms Omar has entered a pit of vipers in which only the most extreme statements are heard and where rationality has little weight. Her public statements should generate discussion not condemnation, probing not bashing, but that would take too much time and energy for most.
With regard to Mr Friedman’s editorial I applaud his deliberation but I don’t agree with all of his observations or conclusions. The question of how to resolve the problems caused by the displacement and disenfranchisement of indigenous people is historic and global. Mr Friedman glosses over this while Ms Omar’s statements attempt to address it, at least within the Israeli Palestinian issue. We in the US need to follow her lead.
9
There is much to approve and support in Friedman's column, but I find a considerable failure: he feels deeply the need of Jews and Israelis to have a homeland, but he fails to explicitly grant Muslim Omar the same deep attachment to her coreligionists.
Second, I would like to comment on the often made comparison between Israel's democracy and autocratic Arab states. Israel was founded and is largely made up of European and Western individuals who came with well-established concepts of political organizations. They were, moreover, educated, and they had, like the Us, the unusual opportunity to create something ab ovo.
Arab states were cobbled together by colonialists whose purpose was to protect their interests. Moreover, they handed over power to paternalistic and autocratic individuals who reigned over mostly unschooled people. The comparison, however correct, cannot ignore that the path toward democracy, coming out of autocratic traditions, is a long and difficult, and given to reversal. Finally, while the rhetoric of Palestinian supporters may, at times, be imprudent, it is clear a sign of frustration and impotence with respect to the circumstances.
11
@Frank Casa Frank, Actually today the majority of Jews in Israel are from North Africa and the middle East.
1
@Frank Casa None of that is true. Many Israeli Jews are from Muslims lands. They were expelled by Muslims so they live there. Where else were they supposed to go? Muslims have dozens of countries.
1
I'm bothered by Rep. Omar's words more than statements by Republicans (granted they may be more anti-Semitic than hers) because I'm afraid her rhetoric is of greater consequence to the future of the Democratic party. The statements she's taking all the heat for aren't even actual criticisms of Israel, but conspiracy-mongering about supposed nefarious financial influences and dual loyalties.
The Democratic leadership (Pelosi is no dummy, last I checked) knows full well that the reason the party is in the majority is that its tent is large enough to include moderates. The GOP has been cynically trying to turn Israel into a partisan issue, and the left fringe is playing right into it. If this goes unchecked, the Democratic party risks turning into the UK Labour party. In the last US election, over 75% of Jews voted Democratic. In a recent UK poll, only 13% of Jews voted Labour, with about 40% considering leaving the country should Corbyn become prime minister.
5
I generally agree with Friedman and this is no different. Omar has to be more careful in her discussions with the media. I highly doubt she wants any of these issues to surround her, but she has made a statement or two that have drawn poor connections, and now she is getting hammered for it. She needs to wake up and do her research before she loses an amazing opportunity to challenge the extreme right wing in our country. We need her. She needs to get serious.
5
There actually is one other leader who would use speaking to another country's Congress to further their own election campaign or any other personal interests. Our particular leader would and has done worse.
1
The article gave me a lot of insight. I apreciate Friedman's honest views. We all need to educate ourselves more on these important issues.
2
Here’s a thought experiment: what if there was a lobbying group, the American China Political Action Committee, which directed huge sums of money to politicians who then passed a law stating that Americans who refuse to buy Made-in-China goods will be ineligible for government contracts or employment. Then when someone pointed out that this hypothetical Chinese financial influence is eroding our free speech, they are accused of being racist and threatened with lost jobs and committee positions. That would be a problem, wouldn’t it?
11
The debate within the American liberal-left about support for Israel (and what that means) is nothing new. Secular/religious, liberal/hardliner divisions have been hashed out ad nauseam in American politics... at least within the left end of the spectrum.
It's good to have Muslim voices coming into mainstream American politics, whether you agree with them or not. For one thing, if a person holds a flawed or extreme opinion, a vigorous, honest, public discussion may help them move to a more moderate, better informed position. This should be true of anyone, anywhere in the spectrum of debate. Tamping down dissenting opinions will only perpetuate the negative feedback loops that already exist.
9
There is NO PEACEFUL solution to the Palestinian-Israel conflict. Numerous attempts in the past by liberal and conservative governments have failed, largely because Palestinians view Israeli concessions as a sign of weakness by the Israeli government. If the Palestinians just hold out for more, more concessions will inevitably come. They do not understand the concept of compromise.
9
It's refreshing to see a nuanced commentary on both Omar's remarks and the Republican's use of Israel as a political tool. Not once did Mr. Friedman label Omar's words as anti-semitic, likely because they aren't. If questioning the influence of Israeli lobbying in our government is anti-semitic, we must apply that same label to Trump and conservatives' vilification of George Soros and Tom Steyer. Jim Jordan attacked Ralph Nader the other day in similar words. As always, I'm frustrated to see them seize on Omar as a way to divide Democrats and derail productive discussions, while also having dirt on their hands.
To see the wrong type of response, look to Juan Vargas or any Republican. These lawmakers believe that even questioning the U.S-Israel relationship is unacceptable. When we can't even broach the topic out of fear of retribution lobbying and public slandering, we know Omar's hit the truth.
12
This is one of the most thoughtful pieces about these issues. I don't think Omar intended to use anti-Semitic language. The reason I believe this is that I didn't even realize some of her wording was considered anti-Semitic, and I have lived in Israel for years.
Secondly, if you talk to both Jews and Palestinians living in Israel and the Palestinian territories, you quickly realize that the opinions are not nearly as diverse as the people. I have worked alongside Palestinian Israelis and Jewish Israelis (and Druze and Bedouin Israelis, religious and non-religious Israelis), and I have found most of my colleagues to be in favor of a two-state solution and strongly against settlement expansion. I believe this still represents the opinion of the majority of Israelis of all faiths and ethnicities. The media likes us to believe we are highly politically polarized (to get ratings or sell papers), but we really aren't that different from each other.
Finally: aren't ALL lobbyists and donor groups corrupt at this point? The swamp is alive and metastasizing in Washington, and I don't think corruption favors any religion or nationality.
7
Interesting article. I, too, have a strong dislike of AIPAC and support the BDS movement for the same reason as Rep. Omar. Without a two-state solution both the Palestinians and the Israels will have years of turmoil and a possibly tragic ending. It is time to make peace.
3
Brilliant! Balanced and loyal to the facts. Mr Friedman states what needs to be stated over and over again: both sides can be wrong on some aspects of an issue. Things are not always binary.
3
How remarkable that the via media, the moderate, middle way, can be so hard to find. Thank you Tom Friedman for leading us there, once again. I sure hope Congresswoman Omar reads your column, at least this once.
3
Thank you for this nuanced and very interesting account of the situation.
As a Frenchman, I perceived the expression of "dual allegiance" as potentially antisemitic also because it evokes, albeit indirectly, the idea of the "stateless Jew", the "wandering Jew", easily associated with the treat of "international finance" and the "Jewish lobby" (you use this expression yourself, but in France it would be perceived as highly problematic).
4
Somehow I still can't get over the idea that people were forced out of their homes so that the new nation of Israel could be created.
It seems to be the big problem that will never go away, in my mind.
It is like the settlers taking Native American lands, or any other situation where people are living and other people come and force them out.
1
@Judy Strain. Many Arabs stayed at the time and became citizens of Israel. There was no sovereign Arab state there at the time Israel plus numerous Arab states were formed. At the same time, there was zero tolerance for Jews living in the new Arab states. They were all forced out. I was in Tripoli, Libya in 2006 and saw a Star of David engraved in the side of a building that had once been a synagogue. Our tour guide told us there were no longer Jews to speak of in Tripoli.
It is true that both Jews and Arabs lived in the region at the time and that Jews were a minority population. But that is why Jews got one tiny piece of land where Judaism originated while Arabs ended up with 23 sovereign states in the region.
6
"Which only reinforces a fundamental rule I have: I love the Israelis and the Palestinians, but God save me from their American friends. When they recreate and fuel their conflict here in America, and on college campuses, they only sow more division, distrust and make things worse. And that’s the last thing the good people in Israel and Palestine need."
I agree with this. I find militant advocates of both sides incredibly tiresome and wish they would all fall off a cliff together. More seriously, at this stage foreign involvement in the conflict is more harmful than good. It gives both sides an illusory alternative to the unpleasant task of finding a middle ground. The nature of actual middle grounds is that both sides will absolutely hate it, but that is where peace is to be found.
But so long as the US will go to bat for Israel in the diplomatic arena and keep financial and military aid flowing, and so long as Palestinians think foreign pressure is an alternative to dealing with Israelis, this nonsense will drag on forever.
Now if Israelis and Palestinians want to make each other miserable until the end of time over some scraps of land, that's fine by me. Just leave the rest of us out of it.
2
My Republican friends (yes, it is possible to talk to, and even like people whose politics you don't agree with) are quite happy with Omar, Tlaib, Ocasio Cortez being the face of the Democratic party and don't want to see them go anywhere.
They are the gift that keeps giving, they say. Why the party leadership put this uninformed loose cannon on the Foreign Affairs committee is the question.
2
Mr. Friedman, I am a liberal American Jew who votes Democratic because I strongly support the commitment to pluralism and capitalism tempered by social safety nets and environmental regulation.
But I am also a strong supporter of AIPAC because I see too many liberal Jews who have a blind spot and see nothing wrong with demanding that there be zero Jews in any future Palestinian state while Israel is home to many Arabs. In fact, the proportion of Jews in the West Bank is exactly the same as Arabs in Israel. As long as the world still supports a double standard against Jews living outside of Israel, we need AIPAC. If you wonder why there is an Israel at all, this is why.
8
History can be inconvenient sometimes, and it certainly is regarding the issue of a Jewish homeland. In practical terms, Israel is here to stay and so the rational thing to do is find a solution that accommodates both the Jewish state and the Palestinian people. That possibility seems to fade a bit more every day. But even if a solution is found, something needs to be acknowledged.
In purely historical terms, Israel was a wrong-headed idea from the start. Palestine might be the biblical home of Judaism, but the Jews who settled what became Israel were overwhelmingly European, with no blood ties to the land whatsoever. The Palestinians they brutalized and pushed out, on the other hand, had ties to the land going back a millennium and more.
"A land without people for a people without a land" is simply a historical lie. Israel is an established fact, but at least have the honesty to admit that it was founded by violence against the indigenous population. A lot like the United States was, as a matter of fact.
3
So basically, you don't like Omar because she supports B.D.S.? That strikes me as an odd position for you, someone who is normally humanitarian-minded. Whatever one may think about the government of Palestine, there is no question its people have been made to suffer extremely due to Israeli policies, and those of its supporters in the west, the US chief among them. Israel's misdeeds may not be the *biggest* in the Middle East, but they are terrible all the same. As a Jew, I've had enough.
7
The district she represents may have Somali refugee residents but how many became naturalized citizens like the Congresswoman? I ask because I'm wondering who in her district is supporting her B.D.S. activism and her disgusting use of anti-Jewish tropes including her latest "dual loyalty" slur.
That cannot simply be overlooked. The trope of the "rootless cosmopolitan Jew" has been around forever, and its use has led to some very dark pages of history.
On Netanyahu, a brilliant take down of that outrageous (and allegedly corrupt) operator. The interfering Citizen Genet of our time, addressing our Congress to criticize an incumbent President. Outrageous chutzpah.Thanks, Mr. Friedman you hit the target on that .
You also ask the question that the hard left and identity politics crowd in our party won't ask her. Instead of dealing in righteous outrage/ and perpetual victim-hood, what are you doing to bring people together to find solutions? Nothing it appears.
1
I am a Somali-American who is very disappointed with Ilhan Omar’s waste of the great opportunity given to her by this great nation to represent as member of the US Congress from the great state of Minnesota. So instead of concentrating and helping her constituents in dare needs in her district of Minnesota, she’s unfortunately getting involved in one of these intractable and strenuous issues of the Israel-Arab conflict that others with more experiences could not resolve for decades. So my advices to her are: first and foremost please stay away from the Middle East politics/ conflict, affairs; second work diligently for the interest of your constituents in Minnesota, and more importantly thank “America” for giving you the lifeline that you enjoy today.
YSA, New Jersey
10
I love Thomas Friedman. He has written so many wonderful posts about topics both personal and political. I have no Jewish heritage, but I agree that an independent nation to preserve Jewish heritage is good. But I fear that what is happening in the current place called Israel is dream, or maybe a nightmare. And the current political lies and money is making it so. The Middle East is a very brutal place. List all those counties. Arabs murder Arabs, violence, killings, all over the Muslim world. It must be very difficult for Israel not to respond in kind. But we expect them to. We expect Israel to honor the hope for social justice and peace. The US should do more to counter the downward trend within Israel to see violence and deth as a justified response to what are very complex resistance to their continued occupation to the people who live in so-called Palestine occupied territories.
5
I respect and almost always agree with Mr. Friedman, and I share his concerns about Ilhan Omar's support for B.S.D., but I also have come to be suspicious of not only AIPAC but the millions and millions of politicians and Americans who believe in "Israel right or wrong." I didn't believe that of America during Vietnam and I certainly can't believe it of Bibi's increasingly extreme Israel in 2019. I used to admire Israel so much - but that was before. And by saying so, I open myself to major attack, I fear. No Americans should have to feel that way.
12
Mr. Friedman, I've read and liked all of your books. Once again you are a small stone of sanity in a gravel pit of intolerance, hatred , political disruption and more. Perhaps Ms. Omar will learn with time. Some of us, myself included, were shocked at "AOC" when she calmly asked very important questions in the open hearing recently to Mr. Cohen. There is the difference. Perhaps Ms. Omar could take a lesson from her.
5
I genuinely don't understand the position of people like Thomas Friedman. If not BDS, what? Does he expect Israel to just give the Palestinians equal rights and end settlement building and occupation of its own volition? this has been going on for 70 years and there is no indication that that is a realistic expectation at all. Certainly, he -- as do I --rejects violent tactics. So why the strenuous opposition to BDS?
10
My concern in amplifying and republishing her views, and commenting on them; we give her a platform she does not merit.
4
@Dr.Abe, free country, no? How much bandwidth do we give trump day in day out, media is obsessed with him and he thrives in the attention.
1
This comment is exactly why there is resistance to status quo. The mere idea of descent is just too threatening too some. I think we are going to start hearing more about a Palestinian State having the right to exist.
1
"Not only did that violate diplomatic protocol — an opposition party working directly with a foreign government "
A pattern of the Republican party
7
Bunch of nice words by Friedman but Omar like many of the new breed of democratic congresswoman are more sinning than sinned against. They are a troublesome lot and will cause trouble first to the republicans before doubling back and causing even more trouble to the democratic party itself.
4
No one in BDS has anything to say about Palestinian Authority corruption or Hamas terrorism.
Nor have they anything to say about the fate of the 6million+ Jews of Israel living in a state with either of these organizations being the government of a greater Palestine.
There is no doubt the Arabs of Palestine have very little say over their lives and suffer because of their lack of political rights. But 70 years on, the plight of the Palestinian diaspora in the region has little to do with Israel. Reps. Omar and Tlaib have rights in America for which Palestinians in Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia or Iraq are delusional fantasies.
Making Israel the root of all Palestinian difficulties is a lie and thus anti-semitic.
I agree with Mr. Friedman: Israel under Netanyahu isn't doing its people any good and has done much to make a bad situation worse. But until the Palestinian Arabs have something more to say than clear out of the West Bank and demand the right of return, I fear Israel will be led by its conservative political and religious factions and continue to be hypocritically vilified by much of the world.
6
In my opinion, her most recent comments, which triggered the call for censure, were not anti-semitic in the least. She simply stated what should be a given in any Representative Democracy. The outrage mirrors the perverted end game conclusion, that any talk of gun control is nothing more than a ploy, to eventually take away everybody's guns. Sorry, but those that call for her rebuke, are playing fast and loose with the truth and what makes it even worse is, they already know that.
8
Oh c'mon. Her lack of critique of Iran is drawing false equivalency here. Iran does not receive $40 billion of American tax dollars for 10 year military aid packages. Israel does. The US supports Israel financially, and hence the US Congress has an obligation to monitor and yes, if needed, criticize the country and hold it accountable.
I do agree that everyone has a right to boycott whoever they want.
14
Thomas Friedman writes:"And one issue [Omar] seems to have seized on is the alleged dual loyalty of Jews to America and Israel."
Omar said no such thing. She never mentioned "Jews," nor was her statement part of any "trope."
She clearly referred to those in Congress, in politics and many others whose support for Israel appears to equal and even transcend their support for the interests of the United States. This includes many Christian Evangelicals and even Senators like Lindsey Graham whose knee-jerk and unquestioning support for Israel knows no bounds or limitations. Graham and other Senators voted against the bill for increased military aid for Israel because they thought the increase of US taxpayers' money for the Middle East's most powerful state, and the only nuclear power in the region, was not enough. The Senate's first bill this session, which is always symbolically significant of the legislature's interest, was one that supported Israeli issues, not American ones. Why are some Americans required to take an oath swearing not to boycott certain Israeli products in order to get totally unrelated jobs in education and social services, among other positions? Why have some 27 state legislatures passed laws punishing Americans advocating boycotts against certain Israeli products when the boycotting of some American products is perfectly legal?
8
Mr. Friedman
Thank you for articulating an complex issue very well.
BDS founder Omar Barghouti has made it EXPLICIT that he does NOT support a 2 state solution. He has said so clearly and unambiguously in numerous speeches and interviews, some of which are readily available on Youtube.
Anyone who supports BDS is supporting an organization that is dedicated to creating a single "Palestine" that stretches from the Jordan river to the Mediterranean.
This means the end of a Jewish majority state. If this is what people seek, then they are anti-Semitic. It is as simple as that.
I agree that people can criticize the policies of particular Israeli politicians and particular political administrations. But to deny the right of Israel to exist as a Jewish majority state is to deny the Jews the single place on the planet (smaller than New Jersey, by the way) where they can live under laws of their own making.
Omar supports BDS. Tlaib supports BDS. Unfortunately others of our younger DEM politicians may also support it. I question whether they really understand what they are supporting.
I disagree strongly with the West Bank settlements. Sadly, Israel has learned that when they withdraw completely (Gaza Strip) they receive invasion tunnels and missiles in return. Whereas, when they maintain walls, fences, and build settlements, (West Bank) they are able to control their border security and experience far fewer terrorists crossing into their country.
6
Rep. Omar is a mere foreshadowing of the demographic changes that we who care about the region must live with. She was 15 when Netanyahu was first elected, 19 when the last real negotiations took place at Camp David. The outrageous behavior you describe is all that she has seen from Aipac and Israel in her adult lifetime. (not even touching the situation on the ground). The wind has long since been sown. The whirlwind yet to be reaped.
10
The problem facing Omar's understanding of present-day Israel is a definite lack of understanding of the history both of the Jews and Palestinian Arabs. She like many others see the present situation without the perspective that history sheds on this situation. Looking Israel the bad guy and Palestine as the good guy without any nuance or subtlety that this relationship demands. Good luck with that.
7
Mr Friedman (and others commenting here), I am not from Minnesota and not of Jewish descend ( a melting pot ancestry, though my paternal grandfather was Scotch-Irish). I agree with the criticisms both you and Ms. Omar voice about AIPAC. Seems to me, that the real difference between the two of you is that you are of Jewish descent and she is not. The problem for those of us not of Jewish descent is that we are accused of 'tropes' if we criticize Israel, AIPAC or US support for Israel. I have non-Jewish friends who think I am anti-Semitic because I openly question US support for Israel. I was a Political Science major many years ago in college and at the time was very interested in Mid-East studies, in no small part because my high school sweetheart was Jewish. (I guess saying I once was madly in love with a person of some other persuasion will be viewed by some as saying the classic 'tell', I have friends who are …) The point is, Mr. Friedman may be criticized by some for his positions about AIPAC and Israel, but he is not labeled anti-Semitic. How does a person who is not Jewish criticize American's (Jewish or Evangelical or whatever they may be) for contributing large amounts of money to a super PAC to support Israeli state policies we find abhorrent, and NOT be found somehow to be Anti-Semitic or using hate speech? I joke with my friends about needing to go to the bank because I am out of Benjamins. Is that anti-Semitic, pray tell?
11
Thanks, Mr. Friedman. Those who claim that Israel is not a democracy because it is a theocracy fail to understand that, coming from all parts of the world, what binds Jews together as one people is their Judaism. And if Israel is to be a Jewish homeland, then it must remain Jewish.
If the Palestinians hadn't been throwing away every opportunity to reject terrorism and work for their own country, and use the international aid they have been receiving all these years for other things than building tunnels to enter Israel and create havoc, and lobbing missiles at Israel, they would have had a peaceful and probably thriving country by now.
5
Supporters say Omar is being misunderstood. In her widely quoted tweet, she said, in part, "I should not be expected to have allegiance/pledge support to a foreign country in order to serve my country in Congress or serve on committee." That is taken by her supporters to mean that neither she nor any other members of Congress should be asked, in effect, to swear dual loyalty, both to the U.S and Israel.
But that its not what a lot of people are hearing. They are hearing ancient, anti-semitic tropes being repeated over and over again. The effect is to stir up and legitimize anti-Semitic sentiment. We cannot afford more hate speech, whether toward Jews, Muslims, or any other group. We get enough hate speech daily from our president.
What we need, instead, are Democratic leaders dedicated to winning in 2020. That means a laser-like focus on the kitchen-table issues that affect most families in America, regardless of race or ethnicity. This preemption of identity issues over all other, by some on the left, will destroy any hopes the Democrats may have of winning in 2020. It is suicide!
3
Like Tom Friedman, I have long believed in a two-state solution. HISTORY. For thousands of years, Jews have lived in what is modern Israel but also around the Mediterranean and throughout the Middle East. By the late Middle Ages, Islam had also spread through and beyond this territory; Muslims far outnumbered Jews. In 1492, both Jews and Muslims were driven out of Spain and Portugal but coexisted elsewhere for centuries (with Jews always in the minority). At the turn of the 20th century, about 60,000 Jews still lived in Jerusalem. After WWII, Jews were expelled from many nearby countries and settled as refugees in the newly formed state of Israel, which from the beginning included both Jews and Muslims. The countries immediately surrounding Israel attacked it in 1948, 1967, and 1973. Now, if you draw a map of the largely Muslim Middle East, modern Israel is a tiny spot in the center. In this difficult place, Israel needs the genuine support of states that surround it. BDS is a misplaced distraction from this reality.
4
Once more someone has dared to criticize Mr. Netanyahu's policies toward Palestinians and, in order to shut her up, she has been immediately accused of being anti-Semitic. I, for one, don't see her statement to be directed at Jewish people, but rather at those who are supporting Mr. Netanyahu's conduct or actions in Israel occupied lands.
The reason that we react to critics of Israel policies so harshly is simple: for the last 70 years, a non-stop propaganda campaign has been waged in Western media against Arabs, Muslims, and Palestinians. Once one is placed in the category of Arab, Muslim, or Palestinian, then the implication is that that individual could be a terrorist, does not deserve any respect and making racist, derogatory remarks about him/her is simply par for the course.
This attitude is now so entrenched in the US society that the most outrageous insult that one can level against another, in particular against a politician, is to "accuse" him/her of being a Muslim. I remember how Mr. Obama had to come out and strongly reject the "accusation" of being a Muslim. This was a charge that he had to defend against, since much of the US public consider being a Muslim to be "un-American", therefore a disqualifying trait for one who wants to be the US president.
Just to put Ms. Omar's statements in proper perspective, I suggest comparing them with those of Mr. Naftali Bennett, Israel's Minister of Education (!) regarding Palestine and Palestinians.
8
"And one issue she seems to have seized on is the alleged dual loyalty of Jews to America and Israel."
Did I miss something? I rather thought she was speaking about Aipac's expectation that elected officials, not Jews, are being asked to be loyal to Israel.
As a member of an oppressed group, I understand how vulnerable such groups are and feel, but I do think that some are using that vulnerability as a cudgel to silence opposing views. That quite a few Jews (of all ages, not just the young) disagree with the characterization of Representative Omar's statements as anti-semitic suggests that, at the very least, the movement to silence her should slow its roll. Her opinions deserve to be debated on the merits. As a Jewish commenter noted in response to an article yesterday, she (or he, I don't recall) has been Jewish far longer than Rep. Omar has been alive and she didn't know that these were Jewish tropes. This piling on to a woman who has less privilege than her critics makes me sick to my stomach.
7
It’s one of the oldest stories in human history: two different peoples claiming, and fighting over, the same bit of land. One group turns out to be stronger in some way, and pushes the other group out. Often this story has involved terrorism and genocide, and, like it or not, it is one of the seamier sub-stories of the American experience.
So Jews claim an historical and religious birthright to Judea, but at this point in history it isn’t Judea any longer, it’s Palestine, and the current residents don’t acknowledge the claim on the land, fight to keep it, but are pushed out, in large part because of financial support from both the American government and individual Americans.
The problem with this recurring story is that one group suffers at the hands of the other, and no matter you slice it, oppression occurs. Does it matter if the new group leverages their possession of the land to greater wealth and prosperity? Not to those pushed out. Is the claim of the invaders a fulfillment of a religious/historical/sociological destiny? Doesn’t matter to those pushed out.
My belief is that history has always had winners and losers, so to hope for a different outcome now is hopelessly naive. Power, however it is achieved, wins out nearly every time. But, it is always a messy, dirty business.
3
When Omar used anti-Semitic "tropes" that was wrong. (She cited lyrics from anti-Semites -- though I believe her explanation: she didn't know. She said Jewish supporters set her straight.)
But her criticism of Israel is not wrong (just as Friedman's criticisms of Israel are not wrong.) Her criticism of members of Congress who are always with Israel (not the state, not the people, but with the right-wing government) is correct. She is 100% correct. And what she said is NOT anti-Semitic. She is criticizing both Republican and Democratic members of Congress who always vote for Israel and who always side with Israel on every matter. Why do they do this? Because they are subsidized by pro-right-wing-Israel lobbyists.
In essence, they have signed on to the proposition that you are either with us or against us. That is Un-American.
Israel has a right to exist. Everyone has the right to criticism current Israeli policy. And that is all she has done with her latest statements.
7
"not unequivocally committing to a two-state solution"... Friedman interprets this as being against the existence of Israel. I'm not a supporter or critic of Omar at this point, but this lack of commitment to a two-state solution is widespread among Israeli leadership as well (see the Shmuel oped from last week at https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/27/opinion/israel-election-two-state-solution.html). Do the views of US commentators like Friedman matter more than those of Israeli leaders, and should Omar be vilified for echoing those views (albeit arriving at those conclusions from a very different perspective)? And are those Israelis like Netanyahu and others also against the existence of the country, since they do not seem to support a two-state solution?
Perhaps Jared Kushner will bring clarity to the situation and peace and harmony to the region.
3
Bravo, Mr Friedman! I would bet that most Americans have little to no actual knowledge of the history of the frenzied politics of the Middle East, much less the nuanced debates that surround the Israel/Palestinian conflict. Omar’s tweet, “Israel has hypnotized the world, may Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel”, should be a non-sequitur in American politics because of our lack of sophisticated expertise with respect to this subject. But her words, like Donald Trump’s, are doused in the Jenga of grievance politics and act as an accelerant in the growing phenomenon of anti-Semitism both domestically and throughout Europe. Her words are deeply evocative of the kind of incitement that’s common in a region of the world where slogans like, “Death to America” and “the Zionist Entity” ensure backwardness and endless conflict for the very people who espouse this kind of divisive language. And importantly for the Democratic Party, her words are piggy-backing on the same vulnerability on the Left that Trump’s base is noted for: know-nothingism.
3
The Democratic Party has become unrecognizable. Come 2020, I’m fully prepared to vote the other side for the first time in my life, such is my disillusionment with, and rejection of, the Leftist so-called ‘progressive’ agenda as represented and promoted by the likes of Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Hopefully, millions of other soon-to-be-former Democrats and independents will follow suit.
3
"-because I strongly believe in the right of the Jewish people to build a nation-state in their ancient homeland-"
Using this ideology means that the Native Americans should be able to expel every single person who is not a tribal member.
I find it curious, Mr. Friedman that this never past through your mind or that you don't see the irony of it.
I don't want to be misunderstood because all I want is the bloodshed to end in the middle-east. I don't think it is going to end anytime soon and it is not through the fault of Palestinians nor that of Israelis. It is the because as long as any religion is the also the government there is going to be bloodshed. That' another discussion though.
We live on one planet. We cannot leave anytime soon. We do not own this planet. It owns us. And no, I am not a Native American nor am I a pseudo-whatever. I just have common sense. Common sense tells me that the Muslim religious dogma based countries are on the rise and Israel is not. If I were a person living in Israel I would be searching for another place to live. But then, why bother? None of us are going to be here much longer if we don't attend to the only planet we can live on and that is something, apparently, we incapable of doing.
1
Put this way: "she dislikes Israel-she doesn't believe that the Jewish people have a right to an independent state in their homeland" is sure doing a lot of guessing. The idea of a religious state, any religious state, should scare everyone, and Jerusalem is of course the ancestral land of all three major religions.
Thus: the chaos, war, and hate that has been happening for way too long.
As long as religion is involved, I doubt there will ever be a good solution.
2
the reasons noted by the writer for Americans supporting Israel seem a bit shaky and contrived to me.
Democracy: really? I don’t think Americans, especially their government, really care whether a place is democratic or not. The US regularly supports despots around the world when it suits its interests. Egypt, the Saudi butchers, as we know recently, come to mind. So, democracy doesn’t sound like a good enough reason to me.
Technology etc: really? How many ordinary Americans even know Israel as a tech place or France or any other country as a tech place? I don’t think many Americans care about any other country for that reason. In fact, I think Americans think they have all the tech themselves already, they are the ones sharing it with others.
Religion: perhaps. Some bit of it, especially from the neoconservatives, but many of them are nearly crazy zealots! If I were Israeli I would be worried about people who too deligently do what they’re preached at to do! They can as easily turn on you!
So, these reasons to me sound shaky.
Personally, I think I support Israel cause I support Jewish values and traditions as I understand them, and I am against the historic mistreatment Jews have received. To me that’s simply unacceptable, and I support Israelis for that.
But I also feel sad that many in Israel now, especially right wingers there, have now turned into aggressors! And they side with the right wing here in the US. It just seems strange and crazy!
4
The criticism of Ilan Omar by the right raises the question of whether any criticism of Israeli policy as applied to the occupation must be construed as anti-Semitic. She obviously has not yet mastered the ability to tiptoe around this issue as her more senior colleagues have so willingly done for years in order to avoid the wrath of AIPAC and others.
1
Really great piece, thank you. I just want to clarify something.
Omar has been accused of accusing Jews of having dual-loyalty, when really, the tweets that sparked the outrage were about how Aipac had been lobbying to have her removed from a committee because she was not pro-Israel enough. Her problem was that she should not be pressured to swear loyalty to a foreign nation in order to serve in congress. She didn't mean to accuse other people of dual loyalty, or even to say it is a bad thing. She just doesn't think she should be pressured into loyalty to Israel.
1
Whatever Israel's mistakes, I resonate more with Israel because Israel's government is a representative government like the governments of other Western nations.
I felt anger too for the same reasons Mr. Friedman listed here.
However, as far as the 50 some odd countries with Islamic rule - most of them are authoritarian regimes and are deadly for gays and lesbians, and women who want to step outside the prescribed box. Some of those governments are deadly for those who practice different religions. Ideas encapsulated in the American Bill of Rights do not exist.
I know we Americans struggle with our own prejudices, blindness, callousness, and institutional bigotry. But Rep. Omar can wear her head scarf and have the protection of the 1st Amendment - can she say the same for someone wearing a Jewish prayer shawl in Saudi Arabia? Or for a woman who wants to go dancing and hold hands with her boyfriend? Or a lesbian kissing her wife? You might be called names or face violence here in the US, but the law is at least written to protect you after years of long, hard struggle.
Bottom Line? Rep. Omar would have lot more credibility with me if she also spoke about the vast injustices, particularly against women, in countries such as Saudi Arabia and Somalia.
4
I think the opinion expressed is very welcome. Ilhan Omar is asking for the opportunity to have a discussion where views are not labeled as anti Semitic or anti-Muslim which invalidates persons and their ideas.
1
Paranoid people have real enemies. Ilhan Omar if she is antisemitic, is so on principle, because she feels that Israel, which many Jews stand for, has victimized Muslims, which is a big question and problematic- she is fighting and at war with Israel, which she identifies with Jews everywhere. I am a Jew and an Israeli and I stand up against Israel's bullying of Palestinians, but we have a right to exist without being lectured to and taunted by someone who obviously has a caricatured idea about Jewish people like myself. I quite honestly think she made her point, but I am not her enemy. I admire her idealism and want to make peace with her. There is much work needed to improve the world and she is creating a sideshow, rather amateurely
1
Many times the Palestinians were offered their own state, but had rejected every opportunity to do so. In the words of Abba Eban, the Palestinians "never missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity." The most prevalent reason given is that they cannot give up what they believe is 'Dar al-Islam', the world of Islam. No infidel will be allowed to impinge on 'their' territory. They are opposed to negotiation- as Fatah continually warns that, "we will push the Israelis into the sea." For example:
After the 1948 war Jordon controlled the West Bank for 19 years, to 1967. In all of that time it could have been declared a Palestinian state, but Arafat was not interested. In fact, he did not declare it as Palestinian, until only after the Israelis won it back from the Jordanians in 1967.
In 2000, the Israelis offered to create a Palestinian state in 97% of the West Bank, and in all of Gaza. The remaining 3% would be given from another area to enhance Gaza. This was rejected with no counter-offer.
In 2008, the offer was made by the Israelis to withdraw from the West Bank. This was rejected with no counter-offer.
So, how how many times do you try to negotiate with someone if he tells you that he'll push you into the sea? They did not annihilate Israel in 1948, and now they're attempting to hurt it through BDS. And you, Ms. Omar, are abetting their cause. How much more will you ask of the Israelis that you do not ask of any other country in the world?
3
Mr. Friedman, this is a crucial time in OUR United States of America and OUR world.
People who have stolen/inherited wealth are trying to divide us with hate-anger-fear-Lies,Lies,Lies-death-destruction-WAR-rape-pillage-plunder.
This is the time for the rest of us to abandon the "tribalism" and "religious condepts" that have kept OUR world embroiled in conflict for centuries.
Life should be about making things better for all of us - not trying to destoy each other.
Ms. Omar was elected by a wide margin because of her ideas and they must be considered if WE THE PEOPLE are to overcome man-made obstacles to relative peace and prosperity for all.
1
Hatred of Jews because of their religious beliefs is
anti semetism.
Opposing some of Israels policies is not anti semestism.
Consider two possible suggestions.
Is asking that they be discussed and considered anti-semetic.
1) Give the West Bank and Gaza to the Palestinian for an independent state. Not a state minus as Netanyahoo has said but a fully independent state.
2) Let Israel annex West Bank and Gaza and give the residents full citizenship and suffrage in Israel.
There are some in the American Jewish community who do not want either suggestion considered and they use the charge of anti semetism to prevent such a discussion.
2
Good to see the referencing of the original UN votes in legitimising the creation of the state of Israel. The dozens and dozens of breaches of UN resolutions thereafter by the same state, doesn’t appear to be gaining the same traction.
3
The Jewish People and Israel are held to a different standard.
I agree with everything in this op-ed, however when the Jewish people criticize each other, it is used as fuel for anti-semitism. You are correct that Rep Omar is using AIPAC as a cover and excuse to be against the existence of Israel.
Would Rep Omar accuse Rep Tlaib of dual loyalties to Palestine over America, when she has also been vocally anti-Israel?
Couldn't we also say that Rep Omar has dual loyalties to Islam over America?
4
Kudos to Mr Friedman for a relatively fair and balanced column. It isn't easy.
I just wish he'd have stuck to addressing what Rep Omar actually said instead of trying to guess what she thinks.
I'm perfectly willing to take Mr Friedman at his word when he says that he always puts America first. Let's give Rep Omar the same courtesy when it comes to her motives.
9
Nicely stated. Perhaps, the new face on the block is capable of learning as opposed to the entrenched, beholding, old grey haired white guys like Graham and McConnell. God forbid they be replaced with some new, fresh faces that might be more representative of the country than they are.
6
Judaism is a religion and the State of Israel is a country. However joined as one in the hearts of some, they are separate entities. While it's predictable that there would be backlash against a Muslim legislator making a critical statement about a Jewish organization in America lobbying for pro-Israeli foreign policy, it is unfair to paint her comments as religiously bigoted. AIPAC is, in fact, such an organization and does not deny that.
13
I don't think her comments are necessarily religiously motivated; I think they are motivated by willful ignorance and by ill will.
AIPAC stands for American Israel Public Affairs Committee. There are lots of Evangelical Christian members. But your comment does speak to one reason many Jewish people bristled at her attacks: because many (most) people think of and treat AIPAC as a Jewish organization and as representing (nearly all) Jewish Americans and doing their bidding. So an attack of AIPAC, without context and especially coming from a non-Jew and one who has never said she understands or validates self-determination for and by the Jewish people, is heard by many and perhaps intended by the speaker to at least imply or insinuate Jews, not just a particular brand of interfaith advocacy for a particular vision of Israel. It doesn't help that people continue to refer to an "Israel lobby" and to believe that AIPAC is THE Israel Lobby (discounting other people and groups) while not labeling other advocacy organizations the Ireland Lobby or the Saudi or Islamic Republic Lobby ot the Mexico lobby, or the China lobby or the Islam Lobby.
1
She's phonier than a three dollar bill and is going to be ridden out of congress on a rail by Pelosi and the DNC if she doesn't get her act straightened out.
11
@JayK
Bravo Sir! How well argued and full of insight. This comment is deeper than a black hole. Bravo again.
1
@JayK
Sadly the DNC and the speaker will do nothing. Pelosi can’t even get a resolution passed denouncing antisemitism. The Democrat party has become the home for anti-Semites, but we are not allowed to call out the Congressional Black Caucus who are holding this up, who always fawn over the likes of our country’s number one antisemite Louis Farrakhan.
@Blunt
I gave you my opinion and a visceral feeling, not an argument.
Taking me to task is fair, I rarely if ever post something that defenseless, so I knew something like your post might be coming my way.
The fact remains, though, I am not a fan of hers. She talks out of both sides of her mouth.
Excellent op ed Mr. Friedman. But it still beg the question why did Ilhan Omar chose the Israeli Palestinian conflict to be her spring board? Why not the plight of the one million Uighur Muslims rounded up in concentration camp and used as slave labor by China? or the Human Rights abuse in Saudi Arabia? Why not boycott China and Saudi Arabia? Both issues would have certainly granted her traction on campus grounds? While I do not think nor care if Omar is anti semitic or not, I can’t help but wonder which lobby does she answer to?
16
In what way is Thomas Friedman relevant to this conversation aside from being a member of a specific religion? His comments remind me of a spam call I receive frequently which announces; "This is an urgent message for a specific reason." IT SOUNDS like a salient point, but on only minor reflection turns up empty. Likewise, Mr. Friedman's comments may SOUND as though he has a salient point, but in reality he is simply another apologist for a country oppressing others based on his personal affinity for them. Whatever the past (and in this case, a horrific past) a group may have, it does not excuse or allow for support of indefensible actions. That includes everyone. The US, the EU, Russia, Morocco, Sri Lanka and yes, Israel. So, this is essentially spam.
18
Thomas Friedman really did just say he has a lot in common with Ilhan Omar.
One day, if he's lucky, Congresswoman Omar can sit him down and explain the difference between growing up in Somalia and the Dadaab refugee camp, and renting a cabana at the Cairo Marriott.
25
@NDGryphon
And yet she is ungrateful to the country that took her and her father in. What would be her condition had they remained in Somalia?
And talking to cabdrivers.
@applegirl57 where do you get that?
What Ilhan Omar is doing is no different from what Donald Trump is doing - creating a false narrative and marketing it as fact. The American government, and most Americans, support Israel not because of the efforts of AIPAC. We support Israel because we believe in Israel. With Israel we share historic and cultural ties. It is the only thriving democracy in the middle east and is a stalwart ally in a region where loyalties can change by the hour. Ilhan Omar's fantasy, that we support Israel only because of money being paid to us by AIPAC, is not only disingenuous, it is insulting. Criticizing Israels policies is one thing. But that is not what she is doing. She is simply expressing her own prejudices and extremist beliefs. We on the left are adept at spotting right wing dog whistles to their racist base. Like them, Representative Omar is blowing dog whistles to her antisemitic base. She should be stripped of her committee assignments and censured. Our focus should be Donald Trump, not Israel.
9
Any criticism of Israeli foreign policy is immediately labeled as anti-Semitic. It's crazy. I can firmly believe in Israel's right to exist, and I can also believe that Israel's leaders have committed crimes against humanity in their treatment of Palestinians.
30
No, it is not. Hyperboles help no one here.
Everyone knows perfectly well where you stand Mr. Friedman, you were a staunch supporter of the bombing and invasion of Iraq, based on lies appearing in this very publication that flew in face of any and all credible information and needlessly caused the derailing of Powell’s political potential, a seventeen year and counting effort to destroy or destabilize every enemy present or possible of Israel, working out pretty good for Israel, not so much for a Europe that is saddled with refugees fleeing those wars nor for Americans whose needs for infrastructure, affordable housing, affordable healthcare, education etc have been scrapped to fund the “ war on terror”. .
17
Mr. Friedman article reads like a confession of a Jewish liberal Democrat, but it ignores the fact that Ilhon Omar and Rachida Tlaib have political profiles of classical agents of intolerant Islamism. N.B.-- I am not saying that either one of the two IS such a one, but only that both fit the profile.
2
What profile is that?
It would be fantastic for Mr. Friedman to reach out to Congresswoman Omar and offer a dialogue...or interview on the subject of Israel, the Middle East, and AIPAC. That would be a great place for expanding her knowledge.....and ours in better understanding her political and personal opinions on Israel and the end result of the Occupation.
8
Or a class on unlearning anti-Semitism. And the history of Jewish life in the Middle East and of anti-Semitism.
1
Tom Friedman fails to ask to whom does Ilhan Omar owes allegiance? Is to the 5th District whom she represent in Congress? Is to th State of Minnesota? Or is it to BDS/anti-Semtism/anti-Israel groups. She seems obsessive with that topic where any apologies by now ring hollow and unbelievable.
Critical honest thinking must applied by all sides. With all the criticism of Jews and Israel never once that Iihan Omar take the Palestinian Authority to task for rejecting Israel’s peace offers and/or failing to propose an offer or a counter-offer. After all she a freshman congresswoman from a Muslim background who can shed a fresh light on the subject. But no, her first initiative was to criticize and castigate, rather then come up with some positive proposals. So I ask again where is her first allegiance? Given her background it might not be the 5th District.
9
Interesting that the most "Recommended" post here - almost 500 - makes 2 claims that directly contradict Mssr. Friedman: That he considers himself an "Israeli" and that he denies the right of a Palestinian State.
Did these individuals read the article? Did they comprehend the article?
4
Maybe all that cold weather in Minnesota froze her brain, maybe it will thaw out in congress where she will meet all sorts of people from every religion and skin color. I doubt it though. Trump must have a grin on his face a mile long.
6
@Lonnie
If you bothered to look at many of the comments in support of Rep. Omar's stance toward the AIPAC, you'd find many are coming from states outside of Minnesota.
As for Trump, he's grinning for an entirely different reason -- but quite possibly, that won't last very long.
1
According to Friedman Representative Omar said that the B.D.S. movement “was not helpful in getting [a] two-state solution.” Friedman then states that B.D.S. is just code for getting rid of the state of Israel.” Therefore, because Omar failed to “unequivocally commit[] to a two state solution,” supports B.D.S. and fails to criticize Iran or the Palestinian leadership Friedman is suspicious of her motives and her support for the state of Israel. Quite a leap of logic Friedman makes.
But the more important issue is not what Omar believes. It is what suggestion does Friedman have for getting to a two-state solution, which now appears near-death, other than B.D.S. or something similar. (Invading Iraq to bring democracy to the Middle East – eagerly supported by Friedman -- didn’t work out too well.) So while Friedman correctly rails against AIPAC for all the right reasons, I haven’t heard any meaningful proposal from him to pressure Israel into a two-state solution. I see no alternative other than economic action.
9
I fish Minnesota - NO LONGER!
I vote Democrat - NO LONGER!
3
Your first claim rings true. Your second not so much...
"Everything I have heard from her leads me to conclude that she dislikes Aipac because she dislikes Israel, because she does not really believe the Jewish people have a right to an independent state in their ancestral homeland. She seems to support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel, known as B.D.S."
*FACEPALM* How does Friedman get that supporting BDS equates to being opposed to the existence of Israel? This is an absurd conclusion to jump to! These are TWO VERY DIFFERENT THINGS. Does he not understand that you can support Israel's existence but view BDS as a way to pressure Israel to better respect the human rights of Palestinians? Israel gets billions of dollars a year in military support from the US. Should we just give Israel's government a blank check for every human rights transgression?
12
This is like American Indians showing up at Trump Tower and claiming that the land is theirs because it's their homeland.
Homeland? Whose homeland is it? hmmm.. Did anybody care to look at the census records?
One problem with this whole "homeland" argument is what dates do you want to pick? From the 1st century AD to the 4th century AD, the Jewish people were the majority, but after that they were not.
For example, the 1922 census of Palestine showed that the population was 757,182, including the military and persons of foreign nationality. The division into religious groups was 590,390 Muslims, 83,694 Jews, 73,024 Christians plus other religions.
So what are you going to tell a Muslim who lived on the land for 500 years? ha... that really belongs to the Jewish people? That's stretching things a bit.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographic_history_of_Palestine_(region)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1922_census_of_Palestine
13
@Peter
Jews are indigenous to the region. The Arabs, descendants of invaders, colonists, and 20th century economic migrants...not so much. Nevertheless, the Jews were willing to relinquish territory for the sake of peace The Arabs, not so much.
1
I would expect better from the columnist, who grew up in a liberal enclave with Scandinavians. I have read his columns in the NYT since 1992. Well written, balanced and liberal. I was shocked when he supported W’s invasion of Iraq. I quit following his columns for many years doubting his judgment. Now I’m wondering why he joins the choir accusing the young lawmaker of wanting the destruction of Israel. Israel is not going anywhere, that is for sure. But the outlook is not so bright for the poor Palestinians. Their homeland is all but destroyed.
16
Why do people keep saying 'ask her what she thinks of Israel?' I think she has made it quite clear what she thinks of Israel!
6
Mr. Friedman, it would serve you (as a journalist) and your readers well to speak directly to Ilhan Omer yourself rather than speculate and make possibly erroneous interpretations of what has been reported by others about what she believes or has said. You might be surprised to find that you both hold more views in common than you think.
5
Tom Friedman is correct in saying that Ilhan Omar missed an opportunity to unite citizens -- especially liberal Jews in his old neighborhood, when implying that all Jews are allied with AIPAC and that politicians were tightly bound to AIPAC because, in her words, "It's all about the Benjamins baby."
Omar made a jivey reference to money -- the proverbial life-blood of politics, but because of longstanding derogatory associations between Jews and money, her comments raised hackles across the board.
Too bad, however, that a culturally-based hypersensitivity caused so many to skip over the facts. According to Open Secrets, AIPAC -- despite its acronym -- is not a PAC and contributed nothing to political candidates.
JStreet another pro-Israel group, however, did contribute to the the 2018 campaign -- but predominantly to Democrats, which could have been the motivation for the Dem's recent resolution.
AIPAC, though, has not eschewed money altogether, spending more than $3.5 million in 2018 in its efforts to lobby Washington, and it has been staunchly opposed to the Iran Nuclear deal.
https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2019/02/aipac-dont-contribute-which-pro-israel-groups-do/
So Omar was both wrong and right when alluding to links between AIPAC and money.
Once again money and politics are -- shockingly -- wedded together. This should not be news or an embarrassment to anyone.
However, cultural/historical factors and group identities made more of it than necessary.
1
"when I see it coming from a congresswoman who has never been to Israel, when I see it coming from a congresswoman who, to my knowledge, has never criticized the Palestinian leadership for its corruption and failure — time and again — to seize on peace overtures from Israeli leaders who, unlike Netanyahu, actually wanted to forge a two-state solution, when I see it coming from a congresswoman who seems to be obsessed with Israel’s misdeeds as the biggest problem in the Middle East — not Iran’s effective occupation of four Arab capitals, its support for ethnic cleansing and the use of poison gas in Syria and its crushing of Lebanese democracy — it makes me suspicious of her motives."
Friedman very carefully avoided mentioning Saudi Arabia in that little diatribe. Omar has been a very harsh critic of Saudi Arabia. Friedman as recently as last fall was talking about Saudi war crimes in Yemen as possibilities, and actually said that the murder of his friend Khashoggi was worse than the genocide in Yemen.
3
Mr. Friedman states that Jews have the right to reclaim their ancestral lands.
Is he therefore willing to return Minnesota to the Native Americans who occupied it in far more recent times?
The Palestinians bore the brunt of the world’s reaction to the Holocaust, although they had nothing to do with it.
It would have made much more sense if the Jews had been given a piece of Germany. They certainly deserved
a place where they would be safe. But this “ancestral” argument is specious unless Americans are prepared to
return to Europe/Africa/Asia and leave the continent to the original inhabitants.
13
@Rosalie Baine - Agreed. I've never understood why this one group feels it has some "right" to reconstitute a (relatively brief) Bronze Age kingdom. Hebrews/Israelites held sway in the Levant for barely 520 years between 1000 BCE and 70 CE, a rule interrupted 11 times by some of the MANY other tribes in the region.
They seized the land from the 2,000 year old culture of Canaanites and after 70 CE were represented by a tiny remnant for another 2,000 years (2% of the population as late as 1878). How this amounts to "exclusive" possession by their modern day co-religionists is beyond me.
Do modern Mongols get to reconstitute the kingdom of Genghis Khan? Does Iran get to claim who whole Persian empire, Egypt to India? Do Rastafarians get to invade and take over a small African country as their "ancestral homeland?"
1
Patronizing. Sorry but Israel is not our only foreign ally and not everyone has to love Israel as you do. Netanyahu's arrogance and dismissal of Obama alone is reason enough for any american citizen to have a problem with both him and his country. And since when does your cause have to be hers? Iran's bad acts do not justify the bad acts of the Israel or any other government. The congresswoman sympathizes with the Palestinians more than she does with the Israelis. So what.
11
She crossed the line, that much is obvious. The Democratic Party does not seem too far behind. The 2020 Democratic Convention should be the nail in the coffin. The Republicans are equally untrustworthy, but for different reasons.
My people are smart, but have the amazing ability to justify such blatantly bad behavior through an intellectually stretched liberal prism. Pull back your money and support.
Thomas almost has it right, but can't quite get there. Omar is a good proxy for the blind hatred of Jews that permeates parts of the Muslim world. She cannot help it nor does she understand any distinction, as this was her upbringing. For that alone, she has not business being on any congressional committees. Unless Nancy does this, no lesson has been learned and Jews should reconsider their political allegiances.
Anti-Semitism is an ancient and evil sickness, which continues to thrive into the modern age. Jews are considered "other", and we are (or should be) well aware of the thin veneer of civilization.
Israel has no choice but to be tough. Weakness is most certainly fatal.
16
The concept of unconscious racism and "microaggression" is used against white people when describing their racial malapropisms and misstatements.
Why doesn't this same concept apply to Ilhan Omar? I can't help but believe that a woman raised to in the Islamic faith to be (at least apparently) religiously observant enough to wear a headscarf wasn't as exposed to anti-Semitism just as much as white people are to anti-Black racism.
And this is where she's also completely politically tone deaf. Pushing back against pro-Israeli lobbying is difficult for Jews or even nominal Christians to do -- just what kind of response does she actually expect when she's so strident about Israel? And it's not that a Muslim can't have an opinion on Israel or Israeli lobbying, but the first instinct is always going to see it couched in the same us vs. them terms.
4
Big problem with your position Mr. Freidman is that it is very unAmerican to support a government based on any religion to the extent we have supported the State of Israel. It is fraught with dangers and we have been seeing them for years. Certainly it's because of what happened in Hitler's domain, that the State of Israel came about to protect against such a thing happening again, but time and life move on. Not that I think Jews have any reason to be comfortable anywhere in the world or that such could not happen again, but criticizing the government of Israel is, or at least should be, no different than criticizing the government of any other country. And yes, if someone wants to criticize the personal support of Israel that some Americans seem to put ahead of their commitment to the US, that's free game too. I criticize those things, too, but I would never disrupt the right of Jews to practice their religion or culture openly in the US or anywhere else and I will fight anybody who would argue that those rights should be harmed in any way. Jewish religion and culture are human rights as basic as any other. It's the dangers of support any government with a State religion I'd warn against, Israel included, not without being willing to criticize that State when it is wrong.
10
The man charge in this article:
"She dislikes Aipac because she dislikes Israel, because she does not really believe the Jewish people have a right to an independent state in their ancestral homeland."
The evidence presented in the article to support such a bold claim:
[sound of wind blowing]
12
As an American Jew, I am tired of hearing that opposition to the Israeli right, or to Israel's mistreatment of Palestinian's, is equivalent to anti-semitism. It is not. Maybe Omar's use of so-called anti-semitic "tropes" shows anti-semitism. Maybe it doesn't. She could certainly use a bit more prudence and polish. She should try to say things a bit differently when she is speaking for public consumption. But this whole "controversy" is making a mountain out of a molehill, and it is playing straight into the hands of Trump and his racist fellow travelers. You want to hear real bigotry? Listen to our so-called "president."
10
Am I the only one who sits here wondering if Ms. Omar's status as:
1.) Female
2.) Black
3.) Muslim
4.) Immigrant
...being the reason why there is an inordinate amount of attention paid to her wholly reasonable stance on Israel and AIPAC? After all, hasn't there ALWAYS been such reasonable dissent on this very issue for decades? !?!
HELLO! Noam Chomsky anyone?!?!?!
The fact that Ms. Omar has the audacity to utter the truth is making the establishment crazy. And, this is why I support her now, more than ever. We need her and we need to stand up just as bravely as she is in face of the establishment machine.
I question Mr. Friedman's own inner motives, as much as he question's Ms. Omar's.
29
I, too, believe in a two-state solution for Israel/Palestine but just as revulsion with Israeli government policy does not make one anti-Semitic, neither does a failure to accept Zionism as an article of faith. Even if one supports the idea that the Hebrew God designated Israel/Palestine as the homeland of the Jewish people, there is nothing in scripture to suggest that this land was not to be shared with Muslims, who devote themselves to worship of the same Creator(needless to say, Islam did not come into existence until many centuries later). Nor was there any specified time frame whereby the Jewish state was to emerge or to reemerge in the Middle East. As for AIPAC, their intrusion into our foreign affairs is unfortunate to say the least. On the other hand, where is it written that our legislators are obligated to accept their money and to promote their agenda? Lobbyists are a cancer but no one is compelled to catch the disease.
8
Tom, Omar is one of two Muslims in a sea of Christians and Jews. If she criticizes U.S. Jewish citizens or legislators because she believes they have dual loyalties she’s picked the wrong target. A huge number of evangelical Christians are dedicate to the survival and prosperity of Israel because they believe Christ will return and inaugurate End Times in Israel, probably appearing first on the Temple Mount and from there will lead the final assault on unrighteousness, ridding the world of all who are not his true disciples (read Evangelical Christians).
As to a one state solution versus a two state solution, Tom, you appear to fear that in a one state solution Israeli Muslims might overwhelm Israeli Jews, and seek to annihilate them. That’s a pessimistic view of both Jews and Muslims; it also seems highly unlikely given the evolved state of the Jewish population intellectually, culturally, and militarily. The Jews I know and those whom I met in Israel have a huge and heroic commitment to survival.
As I’m sure you know there is a significant Israeli Jewish population both here and, more importantly, in Israel that favors a one state solution and believes it’s the only hope for true democracy to prosper in Israel. They also believe that the emergent Jewish state in the two state solution will inevitably remain an apartheid regime
As to ancestral homeland, Arab Palestinians can claim that as strongly as can Jews.
6
I agree that AIPAC does not speak for the Jews of America, nor for the people of Israel. It is a lobbying group for the Republican Party eager to lure the Jewish vote and split from the Democratic Party a voting group traditionally liberal, loyal to the USA, compassionate and generous to those in need. AIPAC is also a lobby for Netanyahu whose is tantamount to an Israeli Trump and whose power depends upon a parliamentary multi-party system which restricts majority rule somewhat like states' rights and the Electoral College in the US system.
Ilhan Omar is a newly elected member of Congress, herself a victim of disgusting bigotry on a daily basis sourced, I strongly suspect, in the Trump base. Her apology for the first instance of her "offense" was described by David Leonhardt of the NYT as "classy". If the Democratic caucus passes some kind of resolution against bigotry mentioning anti-semetism or is more sweeping than bigotry against just one group, it is certainly not going to denounce specifically bigotry against Muslim women of Somalian descent.
We need patience, tolerance, understanding among all Democrats in order to have pride in our diversity as a party otherwise it becomes an instrument which will lead to a second term for Trump, continued Republican control of the Senate, and the loss of the recently captured House.
2
I am not going to comment on who is right or who is wrong but I think it’s about time that some one like Ilhar Oman opened the topic. She could be half right and half wrong but when this get discussed we may be able to find what is the truth. You cannot shut some one up because of his or her views and at the same time proclaim that you have unbiased views.
3
"And one issue she seems to have seized on is the alleged dual loyalty of Jews to America and Israel." Tom Friedman ascribes this view to Ilhan Omar. There is no quote to back it up because he has never expressed that view.
What she refuses to do is give her loyalty to a foreign state. And that is the imperative of the bipartisan attitude of 'Israel right or wrong'. What's worse is that those who object to Israeli policies -- particularly as they pertain to the treatment of Palestinians -- are denounce as anti-semites.
Fortunately Ms. Omar has no need to become a member of the political establishment that has given Israel a blank check for decades. Good luck to her!
6
The word that comes to mind, both for Rep. Omar and AIPAC, is “naive.”
AIPAC states that it’s purpose is to support the positions of the Israeli government, regardless whether that government is right-wing or left-wing. And the Israeli electorate supports P.M. Netanyahu because they believe he is the best at defending their country in the face of continuing threats from Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah. But AIPAC is naive in believing that Americans will be as “policy blind” in supporting politicians with whose actions they strongly disagree.
And the fact is that Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, and all the countries that would prefer Israel to simply disappear, are Muslim countries. Textbooks in those countries and areas vilify Israel and Jews, so children are raised to hate Jews from an early age. Rep. Omar is naive not to realize that the fact that she is a Muslim will not factor into how her comments are received. Regardless of her own beliefs, appearances matter.
3
The Washington Post's Paul Waldman expressed a more clear-eyed view of the Omar controversy. His irrefutable point: "The whole purpose of the Democrats’ resolution is to enforce dual loyalty not among Jews, but among members of Congress, to make sure that criticism of Israel is punished in the most visible way possible. This, of course, includes Omar."
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/03/05/dishonest-smearing-ilhan-omar/?utm_term=.5e892948fc01
5
We keep hearing columnists and pundits paraphrase what Omar thinks and feels, and ascribe the worst intentions to her psyche. Why not let her speak for herself? Why is she not invited to any program? It seems people are afraid to broadcast her truth.
She mentions Israel, yes, but she never targeted Jews. In fact, I and millions of other Americans agree with everything she said, and that includes Jewish Americans who care a great deal about Israel.
Does any American really believe that it is acceptable to criminalize our right to boycott any foreign country we wish? When Americans boycotted North Carolina over anti gay legislation, where were Friedman and Milbank on this?
The NYTimes has published reports of Israel’s appalling treatment of Palestinians, including jailing children, and apartheid lawns such Nation State, yet we have US legislators trying to block us from exercising our First Amenment rights as codified by the Supreme Court. This is truly odious and Ilan Omar had a DUTY to speak out, as did every single American of conscious.
So many good people are losing their credibility distorting her message and silencing real debate about Israel. Pandora’s box is open. It is time to have this debate without ad hominem attacks of antisemitism.
11
As we discuss these issues, words and word usage are important.
The word “anti-Semitic” comes off the tongue easily, more easily than anti-Arab or anti-Palestinian—
But it has been expropriated, to exclude other Semitic peoples in its usage.
2
She never accused Jews of double loyalty. She was not talking about Jews, she was talking about Congress. She DID accuse non-Jewish Republicans - and, sadly, many non-Jewish Democrats - of being doubly loyal themselves to the USA and to Zionism; and of making loyalty to Zionism a legal requirement for loyal Americans.
6
"Everything I have heard from her leads me to conclude that she dislikes Aipac because she dislikes Israel, because she does not really believe the Jewish people have a right to an independent state in their ancestral homeland." that is a conclusion that at least i will object to, I don't think that Ilhan believes to be true. You have to give space to criticise Israel without getting emotional. I think boycotting South Africa economically resulted in ending apartheid.
9
Friedman tries to cloak his complete contempt for Rep. Omar with nostalgic talk or his dislike for AIPAC. He also tries to gaslight readers with gross misrepresentations of hard facts. Palestinians are truly entitled to claim a right of return to a land that was taken from them.
And it does not matter what autocratic regimes in the MIddle East do: this still does not make of Israel a democracy so long as, based on ethnicity or faith, some people are treated like second-class human beings, and that the Apartheid model has become the rule du jour (with a wall, military check points for the sole purpose of humiliating Palestinans in their daily lives, control of water resources, occasional warfare every 3 or 4 years against civilians, etc.).
As for the BDS movement, it is a moral reaction from people who have had enough of Israel's political and moral blackmail on Western countries consciousness.
I wish that instead of bashing a junior congresswoman -which tells us a lot about Friedman's patronizing "skills"- he would use his journalistic talent in explaining to the NYTimes readers what has been going in Hebron, just to take a patent example of what illegal occupation looks like.
17
Even in an article as generous spirited and fair minded as this one—and indeed in the comments section of almost any article the Times publishes on Israel/Palestine-- there is the relentless accusation that the charge of anti-semitism is being routinely weaponized against critics of Israeli in order to silence them. To quote the great Elin Willis, who died too young and whose leftist credentials are pretty solid:
--‘on the left, …the conventional wisdom is that raising the issue of anti-Semitism in relation to Israel and Palestine is nothing but a way of stifling criticism of Israel and demonizing the critics. In the context of left politics, the dynamic is actually reversed: accusations of blind loyalty to Israel, intolerance of debate, and exaggeration of Jewish vulnerability at the expense of the real, Palestinian victims are routinely used to stifle discussion of how anti-Semitism influences the Israeli-Palestinian conflict or the world’s reaction to it or the public conversation about it. Yet that discussion is crucial, for there is no way to disentangle the politics surrounding Israel from the politics of the Jewish condition. Anti-Semitism remains the wild card of world politics and the lightning rod of political crisis, however constantly it is downplayed or denied.
2
Bravo Tom!
8
why is Omar and the world obsessed with Israel's alleged human rights abuse when there are much bigger documented human rights abuses-see recent NYT articles on repression of Muslims in China, camps, and their tracking. No calls for BDS for China?
13
Probably because US Citizen are ,willingly or not, funding Israel. If we weren’t giving them millions of dollars most of us wouldn’t be so involved. Also Bibi is a very easy person to dislike. I always feel like he’s sneering at US citizens for being so gullible
8
@Roberta Dooley
BILLIONS. While they have universal healthcare and longer lifespan than us.
I support their right to exist, but do not see any reason we need to pay them.
Omar's hateful rhetoric is repugnant. She should be removed from office. Shame on her.
16
@Prof Emeritus NYC
What legal grounds are there for removing her from office? Be explicit and explain why they don't infringe the First Amendment.
4
So Mr. Friedman,
Do the Pequot have a right to to an independent state in their ancestral homeland of Connecticut? Do the Mohawk have one in their ancestral homeland of upstate NY? Do the Canarsee have one in their ancestral homeland of Manhattan? I mean they lived in those places much more recently than the Jews in what is now Israel.
12
I keep seeing this line, or a variation thereof, repeated by all kinds of pundits: "one issue she seems to have seized on is the alleged dual loyalty of Jews to America and Israel." Can someone tell me when she has ever criticized Jews in this manner? Unless criticizing Aipac is synonymous with criticizing Jews.
11
What makes no sense is that at a moment when Netanyahu has climbed into bed with ethnic cleansers--not racist nationalists, but Milosevic-style racial killers who support the likes of Baruch Goldstein and Meir Kahane--Mr. Friedman has decided now is the moment to attack Rep Omar and BDS and cling to the oxymoronic description of Israel as a "Jewish democracy." If there was any doubt remaining that Israel is a race-based state--after the recent passage of the Jewish nation-state law--Netanyahu and his broad-based coalition who have joined forces with those who favor ethnic expulsion and murder of non-Jews, have eliminated it. Israel has for years used as its pretext for endless delays in any negotiations for a two-state solution (which Netanyahu has long ago disavowed) that Israel does not negotiate with terrorists. Apparently, as the new coalition makes clear the Israeli government does not negotiate with terrorists unless they are Jewish. How preposterous that Friedman thinks the problem most worthy of writing about is Omar's refusal to be bullied into supporting a country that views her co-religionists and those of her ethnic group as humans not worthy of citizenship precisely because of their ethnicity. As for BDS, please explain the difference between Netanyahu, the Nationalist Party of S. Africa, DeKlerk, Mladic and Milosevic. Should Arabs and Muslims passively participate in their self-destruction? This column is even worse than your paean to another murderer, MBS
11
“she dislikes Israel, because she does not really believe the Jewish people have a right to an independent state in their ancestral homeland”
Purely speculative.
You support Israel as a “Jewish democracy”? That is an oxymoron, and dishonest given Israel’s recent legislation that makes it a Jewish state regardless of population demographics.
There IS a generational divide on Israel. I see it on campuses. Students are tired of a double standard.
Every criticism of AIPAC is called out as problematic. That shows their power.
Every criticism of Israel is attacked as Anti-Semitic. That is illogical and dishonest.
When AIPAC supported Netanyahu’s efforts over a US President, they knew what they were doing.
The dishonesty of Israel’s efforts to stop debate, let alone criticism, in the US over their actions goes back decades.
I still want to know why the Times didn’t cover the death of an American citizen, Rachel Corrie, bulldozed by an Israeli tank in 2003. Even the play in her memory was attacked in 2006 for being insensitive.
This hypocrisy has gone on for too long. Israel isn’t above criticism. There is just a hypocritical double standard that blasphemous writings on Muhammad can be cheered on in the name of free speech, but Israel is above any criticism.
That needs to end.
As does the rising anti-semitism in US which is driven by right wing extremists, who get their oxygen from Trump. That is where the outrage should be directed. Not sucking up to Israel.
19
I wish to reiterate what Friedman says about the folly of Netanyahu's single party approach to Congress in 2016.
Here he showed his true disregard of 80% of the American
Jewish Community who vote Democratic. As a Democrat and along with two other leading Democrats who opposed the Vietnam Treaty, I felt that by causing a Democratic walkout Netanyahu had played right into Obama's hands. This was about as self-defeating as anything he ever did.,and its why I've not supported him on anything else. Including Speaker Reid, a long time and stalwart friend of Israel, this was felt as a deep insult. Even worse he alienated a huge percentage of America's Jews without whom Israel could not have come into being. So while, as Friedman infers, the new Democratic Congresswoman from Minnesota doesn't really know what she's talking about, the same cannot be said for Israel's present and, as many of us hope, soon to be erstwhile leader.
2
Terrible Thomas. There is so little room to have a sane and rational conversation about this issue, and your article does little or nothing to forward this. I may not agree with everything Ilhan says, but i applaud her courage in taking this issue on. It needs to be addressed with both eyes wide open and a willingness to deal with the nastiness that has and will continue to ensue.
I notice there is precious little of what she actually has said and so much of your interpretation of what she means. I believe her courage has gotten her to a very good place, and has raised this conversation to a place it has needed to be for quite some time.
10
Always thought Zionism was mainly a reaction over rampant antisemitism over so many centuries (check wikipedia) and ... when no weapon of mass destruction exited. Made sense some time ago above all after WWII. Now, the world should maybe move on, understand the even greater regional risk of a 2 states solutions for jews and push for a one state solution palestinian and jews together and only guarantee protection for jew, christians and muslim holy places.
1
This criticism of Congressman Ilhan Omar comes from a guy who enthusiastically endorsed the invasion and occupation of Iraq by the United States. That was a horrendous war, a senseless war, and those who endorsed it lost any credibility to lecture anyone regarding Middle East policy.
Mr Friedman, the invasion supporter, has no standing to criticize Ms Omar's policy decisions, nor anyone else's.
8
Make our support for Israel conditional. It shouldn’t be possible for Netanyahu to come to Congress and sneer while all kneel before him. What must he think of them? Not much, you can bet lavishly on that. Since our support for Israel comes with zero conditions, There is zero incentive to change the status quo. In one hundred years we will have this discussion.
2
I do appreciate the explanation of the nuances of this story. But I have concerns. Most critical is the issue of dual loyalty. My reading of this Representative's comments is that the comment concerning dual loyalty was not a charge made specifically against American Jews. It was a much broader charge, drawn from the clear reality in this country that support for Israel and the current Israeli government is a mandate; any whisper of a lack of such support is attacked with ferocity.
This convolution of the foreign loyalty comment with ugly claims of American Jewish dual loyalty is worrisome. Simply polling members of different religious groups in the US probably would show at least as much unquestioning support for Israel, if not way more support, from US evangelicals than US Jews. Even if I am wrong on the percentages, surely the total number of US evangelicals with such unquestioned support is greater than for American Jews.
Also, the list of reasons stated for US support for Israel omits that US evangelicals support Israel, in strong part, due to their personal religious beliefs; in other words, nothing to do with Judaism, Jews, or even international politics.
Look at the state law in Texas that requires state employees/contracters sign a pledge to swear not to boycott Israel. Loyalty pledge, anyone?
We HAVE to be sufficiently mature and respectful to permit disagreement without demonizing each other. This article is a step in the right direction.
6
Mostly well said Mr. Friedman. As a Muslim, if I had the opportunity that Rep. Omar has been given, I would seek to build bridges. First, I would thank the ADL for speaking out against genocide in the Balkans and against Islamophobia. I would affirm that Israel is the historical homeland of the Jewish people and support a two-state solution. I simply would not wade into AIPAC and BDS waters. However, I would clearly ask AIPAC whether they really support a two-state solution, and if continued settlement building and expansion, and dispossession are not serious hurdles. Bridges have to go both ways!
10
@Hakuna Matata
Should you chose to run, you have my vote!
2
Economic boycotts in the US have been very successful in altering commercial conduct. Think of the boycott against Farah Pants and California Grapes. When a body is hit in the pocket book, it is likely to change. I believe that many who support B.D.S are not antisemitic but are using a tested tool to change Israel's approach to the Palestinians and to encourage a strong effort for form a two state solution. If the situation in Israel cannot be changed through the elective process, perhaps a boycott would do the trick.
7
Having a disagreement about methodology to solve the Israeli-Palestinian issue is not Anti-Semitism. Jimmy Carter used rather aggressive means to garner leverage over both parties to overcome intractable issues by highlighting the consequences of failing to reach a resolution. One can debate that the BDS movement is effective or not. It is outright dishonest to say that advocates of BDS are Anti-Semitic. It equally disingenuous to assume that someone supports BDS because they do not want Israel to exist rather than because they want to support the relief from draconian policies effecting millions of Palestinians.
I, for example, am a strong supporter of Israel. Having served extensively in the region, including during the Sunni Awakening in Iraq, Israel's constant presentation of Palestinians as 'Muslim-terrorist' to justify this oppression is not only unhelpful, it is detrimental to the long term stability of the region and, most importantly, to the state of Israel.
Having made peace in the region with 'Muslim-terrorists' bent on killing me, having met their children, having shared meals with my former enemies, I believe I can state that emotionalization of the peace process is directly harming Israel.
Israel can make peace in the region. There are certainly threats that Israel must remain pragmatic and realistic about, but that does not mean it is not also currently ignoring partners that can and will aid in establishing a more stable Middle East. It should.
3
It is really unfortunate that any time any public figure, politician etc. criticizes either the United States relationship with Israel or Israel itself, they are then subjected to a chorus of anti-semitism charges or accused of relying on damaging tropes.
It is really unfortunate that I now have to state, at the risk of being perceived as an anti-semite, that I totally recognize Israel as a sovereign state.
Yes, of course there are people in the world who are, indeed, antisemites. There are also people in the world who unintentionally/unconsciously express antisemitic views. I am not defending these people.
Israel is a sovereign state, fully accountable for it's actions and subject to scrutiny. The U.S. - Israel relationship is a relationship of policy, fully accountable for it's affect and subject to scrutiny.
2
I do not understand how a Freshwoman congress person who received less than 300,000 votes is being foisted upon over 300,000,000 people each and every day by the media. Without this unbelievably outsized attention, her anti-semetic rants would be both much easier for the leadership to handle and would not be nearly as widely disbursed and therefore considerably less hurtful overall. Nancy Pelosi must be willing to take whatever fallout may come, but she must be removed from her position, anything less will seem as the Demoratic Party overall accepts if not agrees with her statements. A general statement of not liking racist remarks of any kind is worse than nothing, it will make the party as a whole look weak and indecisive to say the least. And that is about as far from leadership as can be imagined.
4
@NYer
Nothing Rep Omar said was antisemitic. I suggest you read what she actually said.
4
I am a member of AIPAC. I joined in June 2015 because Obama's Iran deal was based on a flawed premise: if you release money to Iran and enter into business agreements with the Iranian regime, the regime's nature would change before the restrictions on development of nuclear weapons would sunset and Iran would transform into a responsible and peaceful state actor. The Iran deal was also flawed because the regime never provided a full accounting of its nuclear capabilities and never allowed inspection of all its known facilities. Instead, Pres. Obama desiring a foreign policy achievement made a deal that could and would never work.
I also disagree with Tom Friedman about the Republicans in Congress turning Israel into a partisan issue by inviting Bibi to address Congress. As we hear often today as Congress launches investigations into Pres. Trump, Congress is a co-equal branch of government. Congress had every right to invite Bibi. Obama,unfortunately, turned it into a partisan issue.
As to peace, I went to Israel in December 2017 and was fortunate to be guided by two individuals each of whom is a progressive Israeli. I learned that even liberal Israelis doubt that a two-state solution can be achieved with current Palestinian leadership. The vast majority of Israelis want peace with the Palestinians. The problem is that a trustworthy partner does not exist in Abbas, the PA or Hamas.
6
It is so pleasant to read a balanced analysis of this issue. It has been politicized to such an extent that I think it could help Donald Trump get reelected. The Republicans' use of this issue to bash Democrats who support Israel but not some of the policies of the Netanyahu regime could very well lead some people to vote for Trump in 2020 who would otherwise vote for his opponent. I fervently hope this doesn't happen.
This was a well written article about a very complicated issue. We Americans must be wary of those that wish to divide us. What is their motive? Ask Sun Tzu.
2
BDS is an attempt to move the needle on resolving the dispute between Israel and the Palestinians---a needle which, for various reasons, has become frozen in place. The vehement, organized, and well-funded Israeli reaction to BDS leads me to believe that it could actually achieve its aim. Don't get me wrong. If Israel made any serious effort to forge a just peace with the Palestinians, I'd support shelving the BDS effort. But until that day comes, I'll consider any peaceful form of leverage available.
6
Israel has illegally occupied Palestinian territory for 45 plus years. They have become increasingly hostile and deadly in that occupation.
How can anyone move to the next phase unless that fact is addressed and resolved?
All these words are just that.
2
I think this is spot on in many ways, and I do agree that in her attempts to support the Palestinian cause and to rightly be critical of Aipac (which as you points out hurts not only Palestinians but the chances of democracy for Israel as well), she makes statements that at times appear to question Israel's right to exist.
That belief would be problematic and people are right to push her on that and ask for clarification of her views. The problem is that I am not sure she could find any way to make some of these very fair and honestly brave criticisms of Israel and it's policies without being called "anti-semitic". That term especially as it's used by Republicans who agreed with Trump that there were good people on both sides of a Nazi rally, is being abused and used for disingenuous political purposes.
It does seem like almost anyone who speaks out against Israeli policies or for Palestinian rights is immediately labelled anti-semitic to try to immediately discredit their views as racist. You don't see this type of uproar or talk of censure when someone shows support for Israel and criticizes Palestinian policies. It is true that our country is far from fair and balanced when it comes to whose rights we seem to stand up for and it is also true the Israel has a powerful lobby that plays a role in that.
With the increase in anti-semitic attacks we must call out behavior that is truly that, but we must also be more balanced in our support of all human rights
“I love the Israelis and the Palestinians”, really?
For a long time, Israeli politicians and their overseas supporters, have claimed that any criticism of their policies and actions are acts of antisemitism against all Jews, inside and outside Israel.
They have falsely felt untouchables as their policies became more right-wing extreme, the settlements kept growing, implementation of the blockade of the Gaza strip is still enforced, etc., etc.
If any disagreement with the Israeli leadership is an act of antisemitism then criticizing the Palestinian leadership “for its corruption” should be considered an anti-muslin act.
Both leaderships can and deserve to be criticized without an “anti” in the sentence.
Mr. Friedman, you cannot have it both ways.
3
Everybody needs to pause and take a deep breath. This discussion is getting out of hand and dividing people who share more in common than we have differences. That is not saying the differences do not matter. Tom makes an attempt here to take that path.
What I fear is happening is that religion (yes religion) is taking over here. I am not religious; however, I support freedom of religion more than most religious people I know. Do not fall into the trap of arguing religion under the guise of politics.
I don’t see anyone censoring members of Congress over racism towards African Americans, or resolutions about Black Lives Matter. Or any number of -its and -ism issues important to us.
I am an old white woman, and it still looks like freedom of speech only belongs to white men.
4
Not being well versed in the nuances of this issue, can someone more well informed clarify a point Mr. Friedman makes? He writes, "one issue she seems to have seized on is the alleged dual loyalty of Jews to America and Israel." I have seen other columnists in recent days argue that this is not, in fact, what she is criticizing (alleged dual loyalty of Jews to America/Israel) but the expectation that Congressmen/women such as herself should be expected to be loyal to another country's foreign policy interests. These seem different to me. Were her words ambiguous and open to different interpretations?
Thank you Mr. Friedman. Excellent analysis of what being an American is about.
Is it not the case that the same austere body that represented the defeat of the Ottoman Empire, that being France and Great Britain, divided up the former Ottoman Empire and redistributed its lands to Saudi Arabia, Jordan, etc, ? The same agreement that distributed a very tiny piece of land on the Mediterranean Sea to become the country of Israel.
Would we call this precedent valid in establishing the principle that the fruits of a victorious war belong to the winners of that war ?
If such is the case, why continue to insist that Israel give up the land it won in fighting in the "6 day war....?" a war that began with the surrounding nations' attempt to cut short Israel's young existence beginning in 1948....
3
"because she dislikes Israel, because she does not really believe the Jewish people have a right to an independent state in their ancestral homeland."
So Mr. Friedman please explain to me how your assessment is the exact opposite of what Rep. Omar has said: "I affirm the safety and rights of both Palestinians & Israelis"?
4
Where is/was this great Palestinian nation? It really never existed. It was not there. Palestinians were not there. Palestine was a region named by the Romans, but at that time it was under the control of Turkey, and there was no large mass of people there because the land would not support them.
'Palestine' became populated by both Jews and Arabs because the land came to prosper when Jews came back and began to reclaim it. If there had never been any archaeological evidence to support the rights of the Israelis to the territory, it is also important to recognize that other nations in the area have no longstanding claim to the country either.
There were 6 million Jews slaughtered in Europe during World War Two. The persecution against the Jews had been very strong in Russia since the advent of communism, and before then under the Czars. These people have a right to their homeland. If we are not going to allow them a homeland in the Middle East, then where? What other nation on Earth is going to cede territory, is going to give up land?
These people have a right to their homeland. If we are not going to allow them a homeland in the Middle East, then where? What other nation on Earth is going to cede territory, is going to give up land?
2
My problems with Israel:
1. My extensive readings have convinced me that during the first part of the 20th century, the Jewish settlers, in what is now Israel, could have reached out to the natives to form with them a secular democratic state that could serve as a homeland for all inhabitants.
2. They didn't do that because of the extreme chauvinism of their leadership (Weizmann, Ben-Gurion, Jabotinsky) and opted instead for displacing the native majority.
3. The only religious character of a state that is worth fighting for is secularism. So to both Mr. Friedman and Ms. Omar, "A pox on both your houses", unless they are for a one state solution.
3
@Eudoxus
And where, in all the Middle East, is there a secular nation? Yet you only have a problem with the tiny state of Israel, not all the Muslim states surrounding it.
1
I think that Tom Friedman's article encapsulates the issues for liberal American Jews who find Aipac an enabler of right-wing Israeli leaders who are often too ready to to attack people who question the Israeli government's policies as being anti-semitic. Unfortunately, Omar's choice of words (and thoughts) have only isolated her from having a useful impact on this issue. There are so many Jews (myself included) who think that Aipac does not speak for our community. But, saying it buys politicians or that we have dual loyalty demeans both our loyalty and commitment to America. We might love Israel, but we recognize that the government has done almost everything to block a two-state solution. Unfortunately, the Palestinians have too often missed a chance to work for a real solution and their failure to recognize that the state of Israel exists allows right wing elements to dominate Israeli politics. If she wants to have a positive impact, work with American Jews, Palestinians, and Israelis to find a solution.
1
At last. Thank you Mr. Friedman for the first plain, logical article that lays out the issues on Rep. Omar.
And yet, there will be many who will skip the logic and blithely read it as an attack on an up-and-coming young, female, Progressive Muslim who you are trying to "silence."
1
I oppose the policies of the government of the Russian Federation, specifically its belligerence, invasions of neighbors, support for murderous regimes, and interference in US elections. (Would Mr. Friedman be "suspicious" of my motives?) I wish that Republicans - in the US Congress and elsewhere - would treat President Trump's support of the Russian government as seriously as they treat a few comments by one member of the House. There's a qualitative difference between treason and disliking the government of Israel.
Tom, You have articulated perfectly the sentiments of millions of liberal and centrist American Jews - our criticism of AIPAC and Netanyahu while still supporting Israel, and our skepticism of Omar. We want fairness for Palestinians, but believe in a homeland for Jews. We have fought for racial justice in this country, equal rights, affordable housing and healthcare. We remember our own history well and don't wish to see others suffer the same fate.
But sadly, there is a self-righteous wing of the Democratic Party that is driving us from our ideological home, with nowhere to go. This wing will give Donald Trump an electoral college map as red as Nixon's and Reagan's. But by God, they will have held to their principles that every underdog is right, and every successful professional is the beneficiary of undeserved privilege.
2
I can appreciate this column. I’m not Jewish, but I have tried many times to explain, though in a much less articlulate way, why some of Omar’s comments are so alarming. I think you must have to be very young or very ignorant of history to not see the potential danger.
3
Just brainstorming here but how can you settle a land which already has millions of inhabitants and centuries-old cities, towns, and villages? And how can you be a democracy when you've got five million human beings penned up awaiting an emancipation which never comes?
5
I just finished reading DiAngelo's "White Fragility" and find apt parallels. We need to acknowledge AIPAC's actions (versus their mission) and our kneecapping of the dual state/equal representation efforts.
1
Great article, Mr. Friedman. Says many things that need to be said beautifully.
1
As the Christian descendant of a Jew, I vigorously echo the dissent from Mr. Friedman's view that he knows Ilhan Omar's head. It is Ash Wednesday, when Christians all over the world are--or should be--reminded that we are dust, that we all too often do not know our own heads, that we have given them to the vanities, to our own deep and preposterous illusions about ourselves. Whatever Congresswoman Omar really believes in the secret depths of her own heart, she is, alas, a human being, and she has a right to know what the world is beginning to recognize, which is that Israel itself is beginning to be possessed by its own fatal illusions. That is just one of the reasons why I myself no longer believe the Zionist dream, as once I used to do.
5
Overall, a fine article but must say that Omar never said that "Jews" had dual loyalty. She clearly said that she didn't understand why politicians were required to have dual loyalty (one to the US and the other to Israel). It would be nice if the media would stop construing her words into something they clearly were not.
6
The real problem is that support for Israel has become sacrosanct. The power of AIPAC distorts the discussion. No one will ever be 100% correct on the issues at hand. They are too complex to put into neat little right and wrong columns.
Instead of guessing what Ilhan Omar thinks about Israel, why not ask her? Instead of projecting your own idea of what BDS wants, why not challenge them to help shape solutions to the issues at hand.
We should all be thanking the congresswoman for having the courage to bring this discussion to light. That is what we are supposed to do. Not cower in fear of yet another well-heeled PAC.
1437
@Warren
I disagree. I would point out that Friedman has written his honest feelings, that of a hometown boy and Jew who supports Israel while opposing Netanyahu, his divisive politics in Israel and the U.S. I would also point out that Omar is young and missing an opportunity to be a bridge between forgotten and impoverished Palisnian peoples and politicians like Netanyahu who do not support a two-state solution.
Or do you support a return to their homeland by the Palistinians too?
28
@Warren “...too complex to put into neat little right and wrong columns.”
Could just as well be “neat little right and left columns”!
8
@Warren
"Instead of guessing what Ilhan Omar thinks about Israel, why not ask her? Instead of projecting your own idea of what BDS wants, why not challenge them to help shape solutions to the issues at hand."
Exactly. And why not stick to agreeing with or refuting what Rep Omar actually said?
54
Let us state it clearly, especially for Mr. Friedman who has not seen a straightforward fact without trying to complicate it beyond all recognition:
Ilhan Omar is an anti-Semite.
There, five words of truth far superior to Friedman's few thousand of peregrination.
7
Righting one wrong often leads to another, especially in cases of “historic”/”scriptural”/”ancestral” rights and wrongs! World War-2 and the collapse of Empires killed millions of innocent bystanders and threw out millions more refugees. Borders of countries moved hundreds of miles, making people quietly sitting in their homes, trespassers and refugees*! For millions of European Jews who survived the Nazi genocide, Israel was the only refuge. Israelis have made a good job of it, thanks to their guts and wits the generosity of the diaspora. Palestinians are refugees!
Isaac Deutscher used an analogy to explain the Arab-Israeli Conflict: Deadly fire erupted in the second floor of a house and the inmates jumped down with their baggage --- unfortunately on those standing down and injuring some of them. Accusations and fist fights ensued!
Bit of pragmatic agnosticism and less of self-righteous rectitude may help both sides.
*A similar “war of rights” threatens many other places, including the Indian sub-continent.
4
Omar repeats that ancient anti-Semitic trope, "dual loyalty," which is code for the belief that Jews are not first class citizens, and don’t have to be treated like everyone else. That's ironic, to me, because I can’t think of anything less American than this kind of divisive hate-mongering.
We don’t need any more hate speech. We have enough coming daily from our president. What we need, instead, are leaders who will pull us together, to work together on common problems—and goodness know, we have enough such to occupy our energies. We don’t don’t need to waste them fighting each other.
16
@Ron Cohen Quote me one thing Omar said about Jewish Americans having dual loyalty.
5
@Ron Cohen: I wish the US government would prohibit dual citizenship. This would at least go some way toward eradicating the unwonted stigma of "dual loyalty".
@ktula Read her speeches.
1
This very long essay agrees with many things that Omar spoke to particularly the pervasive role of Aipac in American politics.
B.D.S. is a windmill that Aipac and other pro Israeli Don Quixotes love to tilt at. B.S. D.'s effectiveness must be close to zero but the effort in Congress to make it sacred beyond our First Amendment rights only gave B.D.S. more publicity and stirred up more anti Israel feelings.
Now Congress is proving Omar's statements about how strong an influence Aipac and other donors have on our policy decisions by demanding Omar be humiliated for speaking her mind.
The disproportionate response shows she has struck a nerve, spoke the truth and must be cowed into saying nothing more about Israel.
18
Let's be honest: the real criticism people have against Rep Omar is that she has committed the offense of having an opinion while female, something further compounded by her being Muslim.
Like it or not: Israel is a bad nation. Israel keeps nuclear weapons in violation of nonproliferation treaties. Israel commits numerous human rights abuses against Palestine on a daily basis. The leader of Israel is corrupt and dangerous. Refusing to subsidize Israel, which is all BDS is, does not make us "antisemitic."
It's pretty clear from Mr. Friedman's article that he has taken absolutely no time to do any research, either on Omar, BDS, Israel, Aipac, or really anything else.
"If she thinks the only reason that Americans support Israel is because of Aipac and campaign contributions, she is dead wrong."
She doesn't, and neither does anyone else. Americans support Israel because Israel is mentioned in the Bible.
"B.D.S. is just code for getting rid of the state of Israel"
No, it's not. Palestinians have the same right to exist as Israelis.
"I want to see Israel thrive — just like many Irish-Americans, Italian-Americans, Indian-Americans"
Last I checked, Ireland and Italy weren't terrorizing people and stealing their land to build settlements.
28
@Randall. Her bigotry has nothing to do with being female, but that is the only reason Pelosi put her in the Foreign Relations committee.
2
As part of a family of Latino Jews, I find Ms. Ocasio-Cortez' stance on this equally troubling. I lived in Europe for years. Blatant anti-Semitism is inherent in leftist discourse, and AOC's rhetoric about the equality of all suffering is a veiled part of that thinking. It's an attempt to bypass the peculiar, raw history of the most widely despised community in the history of Christendom and dissolve it into some holistic vision of human suffering.
Yes, all bigotry is wrong. Yes, entire communities suffer in all sorts of ways and we need to address all of these... But there are no shortcuts - the road winds through the depths of each group's history. This is why we need so much more honest dialogue about black history and reparations in this country. AOC rightfully did not protest the removal of Steve King from his committee assignments over his racist commentary to say all members who've ever expressed any bigotry should should go.
Yet the Jews - forever the objects of the world's morbid fascination and fear, forever embedded in all things Israel - are called out in a righteous cry over double standards. (Never mind that Rep. Omar has a history of tweets that invoke medieval tropes about Jews befouling moral allegiances, parasitically working behind the scenes and "hypnotizing" the world. Such words stoke feelings of a core trauma linked to the singular history of Jews.) "Why should THEY be so special?," AOC grouses to millions. History repeats itself.
23
Bravo, Tal. A balanced response to an excellent article.
3
Unfortunately, the despicable conspiracy theories and related hatred and fear of Jewish people followed Christopher Columbus and the Conquistadors to South, Central, and North America. Just ask the descendants of so-called Crypto-Jews primarily in southwestern US and in Latinx countries why their predecessors felt the need to contort and camouflage their practice of Judaism and hide their Jewish heritage even from many family members. It's because, along with the Spanish language and plenty of diseases, Iberian Catholics brought with them the anti-Semitism of the Spanish Inquisition.
Both Christianity and Islam are massively dominant religions whose adherents too often in history have been domineering in their efforts to supplant older and indigenous spiritualities and the people who live(d) by them. To some of them, to use their lingo, I suggest they kindly check their Christian/Muslim privilege at the door, and then talk with me.
3
So Jewish people have the right to return to their "ancestral homeland" after two thousand years, but Palestinians should not have the right to return to their home and the land of their parents.
Bravo, Mr Friedman. I am sure you have plenty of ready-made arguments to support this self-evident truth.
44
The people who call themselves Palestinians have every right to return to the land of their ancestors. That land is the Kingdom of Jordan where they were living before the 1967 war. Don’t believe me? Look at a map of the area in 1966.
Of course you might have a hard time convincing King Abdullah II to take them back. His father would not do it all those years ago...
1
@NYCSANDI - Specious. History did not begin in the 1960s. Before European Jewish immigration began in earnest in the late 1800, Palestine -- that area between the Jordan and the Mediterranean - was 96% Arab, both Muslim and Christian. Jews were 4% of the population and 2% of those were foreign born.
This place was known as Palestine from the 5th century BCE as indicated in the histories of Heredotus and Aristotle. Palestinian Arabs owned the factories, import-export firms, businesses, orchards (they developed the Haifa orange), olive groves and civic and cultural institutions.
Jordan was promised to the Hashemites in 1915, pre-Balfour; had its own government by 1921 and was autonomous under the mandate; was excluded from the Jewish homeland scheme in 2 treaties; and was fully an independent country by 1946, two years before Israel was even created.
The "Jordan is Palestine" lie is an invention of those who lately have a thinly disguised goal of expelling Palestinians from the land Israel covets beyond its borders.
3
@NYCSANDI So you are advocating that Israel return to Jordan the territory captured in the 1967 war, where some of the Palestinians were living? That's great, and very generous of you; I hope Israel agrees.
Now what about the Palestinians who were living in what became pre-1967 Israel but were expelled? I imagine people who call themselves reasonable would advocate for their return.
1
Outstanding, well balanced piece. Thank you very much. I couldn't agree more.
8
The wild eyed school boy strikes again. I doubt Omar would have pushed for the war in Iraq. I think she would be all for the deal between Iran & 6 countries that put it together. And once again Friedman attacks Iran saying it supports the use of poison gas in Syria, knowing full well that is a lie. Iran as well as Russia just want a stable country, and the only alternative to Assad is a failed state. Friedman picks and chooses what he will mention. Nothing about the children being killed at the border fence. Nothing about how Gaza is almost unlivable and how Israel controls just about every aspect of what goes in & out. Nothing about Israel and the Saudi love fest. Sure you take the Palestinians out of the picture & Israel is a democracy. But that is not reality & Israel right now is not a democracy. It is probably too late for a two state solution. I doubt Israel will give up the West Bank. in fact they just keep taking more & more. Ilhan Omar has every right to feel the way she feels. The Israeli lobby controls our Middle east policy. Trump says the troops are leaving Syria. Bolton goes to see Netanyahu and all of a sudden it's no, the troops aren't leaving. That's just one example. That is why Netanyahu hated Obama. Because he didn't let the Israeli lobby totally run his policy .. the Iran Deal. It's about time we started having this conversation honestly, because every aspect has been one sided for so long. I thank Rep Omar for that. She is not afraid.
18
I delight in finding Dr Friedman explains his views as he had. I find them most reasonable.
I'm a Cornell Graduate where most of my professors seemed to be Jewish and left me with a wonderful wonderful impression of what it meant to be an American Jew: hard working, extremely competent, very concerned about fairness, and most compassionate. I realize the sample wasn't fully representative but it nevertheless made a stunning lifelong impression. About my closest friend today is also an American Jew who moved to Canada. What a strong democratic force he is!
But like Dr. Friedman I think the current government of Israel and the aggressive West bank settlements policy of decades has been and is a disaster very much contrary to the long term interests of the state of Israel and obviously deeply unjust for Palestinians.
The sooner Netanyahu is defeated electorally, the better for everyone. I wish more of the electorate could see this, but such people are fed a diet of fear (not hope) and it seems to blind them...as we are also vulnerable to being blinded by misinformation as well.
As for Representative Omar, I will trust Dr. Friedman's critique.
4
Friedman wants Omar to have the same positions as he does, then he'll be okay with her.
That's divisive in and of itself. Friedman and Omar have very different experiences and perspectives.
That's the starting point for mutual respect.
If Omar favors a one-state solution, then discuss with her why you don't. Find out whether her one state solution includes full rights for everyone. Tell her what you think won't work.
We are going to have to listen to each other. Stopping at the point where someone has an opinion you disagree with is not listening.
13
Mr. Friedman hits the nail on the head when he says, "it makes me suspicious." His is among the most thoughtful critiques of Ms. Omar's conduct, but it still ultimately relies on speculation. On the other hand, Ms. Omar's very political being is splayed in front of the nation for us all to examine at length, and for doing the same thing that Friedman does here--for speculating. And for speculating something that is pretty much common knowledge--that AIPAC's financial contributions to political campaigns have established undue influence in Washington. Mr. Friedman's objections to Omar's stances are at times convincing, but I am struck by the double standard that permits us all to hash this out publicly while her lone criticism of an institutional giant has turned her into a pariah.
9
I admire Israel as a thriving democracy. It has been everything that other countries surrounding her should have been but never were. And as a democracy it has many faults no different from us. We have our rich and we have our disadvantaged and they have Israeli Arabs and Palestinians. I would say we have lot in common with Israel than any other country in that part of the world.
11
@SridharC
In theory citizens of the US aren't treated differently because of their adherence to ancient stories and sets of rules.
1
@SridharC Big difference - Our rich and disadvantaged alike are CITIZENS. We don't choose one group and say they hold office illegitimately (as Netanyahu says of Arab MKs. We don't say only one group of a certain religion has the right to self-determination. We don't say one group whose lives we control "doesn't exist," the ultimate in dehumanization.
As Americans, we're for human rights and equality under the law, the right to be secure in our persons and our homes, entitled to the pursuit of some little happiness. We believe that's a valid goal - for everybody, no exceptions.
Israel believes it has some right to keep the Palestinians dispossessed and disenfranchised these 50 years while it betrays our basic democratic principles with bulldozers and guns. I would say we don't have a lot in common with today's Israel. It does not "share our values."
How on earth did the 5th district vote for Omar? Unbelievable.
17
@Mark
We like her! I know that is hard to believe. She is great at getting things done and represents our district well. I don’t know who represents South Philly, but I would hope you could say the same.
2
“....when I see it coming from a congresswoman who, to my knowledge, has never criticized the Palestinian leadership for its corruption and failure — time and again — to seize on peace overtures from Israeli leaders who, unlike Netanyahu, actually wanted to forge a two-state solution, when I see it coming from a congresswoman who seems to be obsessed with Israel’s misdeeds as the biggest problem in the Middle East — not Iran’s effective occupation of four Arab capitals, its support for ethnic cleansing and the use of poison gas in Syria and its crushing of Lebanese democracy — it makes me suspicious of her motives.”
Few commenters, certainly not the Congresswoman, have addressed Mr. Friedman’s important question...
and there in lies the rub and possible openness to anti-Semitic actions and beliefs.
9
I live in Ms. Omar's district. Her election campaign was practically non-existent. She didn't bother to introduce herself to those whom she sought to represent. We figured this was due to the fact that she was running in one of the safest Democratic districts, but in retrospect I wonder if she was actually trying to delay the inevitable clash with her many Jewish constituents.
I won't deny that her views about Israel's rights and wrongs are popular in some segments of the US electorate, but in the end, what matters is whether her views represent those of her district.
We are a polite bunch here, and we agree that she is entitled to her opinions, but I don't see how we could vote for her again.
13
@George
Are you sure you live in Minneapolis? There were glossy fliers in my mailbox, volunteers door-knocking, campaign signs in yards, etc. She was very clear about her positions. I’m certainly going to vote for her again, she is proving to be a brave leader in the face of Islamiphobia in her own party. She is NOT an anti-semite.
5
@George
With all due respect then George get yourselves together and vote her out next cycle!
1
Thank you for trying to educate a newcomer to America who in-turn can educate us as well. As an Irish-American, third generation, I’ve adopted the ways of this country, worry about the divisions of the old country and try to change them whenever I can. Israel, following ancient Jewish traditions, was the conscience of the world, until recently. I agree that the country is now ruled by an autocrat who has not reduced old hatreds. You can say that, openly, only because you are a liberal Jew, who seeks to restore Israel to moral leadership. What happened to Jimmy Carter when he went too far in a book title that wiped out his tremendous success in bringing peace to the Middle East? I believe the new US Representative is naïve and could enlighten all of us, but not if written off as Carter was or excoriated in the press which seems about to happen. When she understood her first misstep, she apologized. You can help her grow-up in our country which is also divided in strange, and sometimes hateful ways.
6
A good column. My impression, though, was that her warning about dual loyalties had to do with Congresspeople being politically unable to criticize Israel -- being pro-Israel is a solid plank of Republicans (due to their own loony 'end of days' reasons), and it is political suicide for a Democrat to be critical either, or else they get called out for anti-Semitism, as Omar has. It is not possible for a Democrat to say that there is financial influence by pro-Israel groups without being called on it (as we saw with the 'all about the Benjamins' controversy), though you can criticize financial influence by any other group. I think she is just trying to loosen the grip of political correctness around the topic of the degree of America's support for Israel, and the constraints politicians are under when they speak about it.
8
Thank you, so much. This is truly a wonderful article. I am not Jewish but support Israel, in spite of some of its excesses, because it is a democracy and because of the centuries of suffering of the Jewish people. The House needs to reprimand this new Congresswoman and not bring into the reprimand other criticisms directed at hate groups. Her comments alone merit scrutiny and reprimand.
8
The most telling thing is that Omar, upon entering Congress, immediately starts talking about Israel. Aside from the fact that she should be learning the ropes first, making friends second, she should, third, be working on issues that affect her constituency. Since she chose to go after Israel first, it's clear what her priorities and real reasons for entering Congress are: not service, not participation in Democracy, not working for the good of her district, but eliminating Israel. And for those who believe that Gaza is an open prison, do kindly remember that it is under the governance of Hamas. Contrary to belief, Israel and Egypt let in humanitarian goods; there is not a total blockade. If it is an open prison, it is due to poor governance on the part of Hamas, which would rather buy guns than feed people. Finally, Hamas encouraged their people to destroy the homes that Israelis left in Gaza instead of living in them.
12
Mr. Friedman.
I have always admired your columns and your moderate stances. I don't see anything on the BDS website that is not consistent with international agreements. There is nothing that even remotely suggests that they want to do away with the state of Israel. No one needs to worry about that possibility. The Palestinians themselves have acknowledged the right of Israel to exist and even Hamas has made clear moves in this regard. BDS is simply advocating for what the US government has for decades until this administration with the embassy move and support and encouragement of further settler expansion. Being for BDS has to stop being equated with antisemitism, because it clearly is not. It is for Palestinian rights. I should add that the Palestinians have doctors, scientists and other people (just like Israel) who want to work, live, prosper and purse happiness.
14
Mr. Friedman, how can the state of Israel be both Jewish and democratic? It's an oxymoron to think that the Israel you support can fully promote the ideals of democracy while considering citizens with one religious identity as more closely aligned with the state's interests than those with another religious identity. Such a concept violates a core concept of the US democracy, and I'm not sure why Mr. Friedman feels comfortable suggesting that the Israeli state may practice it to the detriment of non-Jewish Israeli citizens.
9
A great article on what many of us hope will happen with Ms Omar. She has a responsibility, as do all in government, to use her intelligence to seek solutions to problems, not to repeat the same old prejudices. The history of Netanyahu will be blacked by his age old power brokering over Palestine, as will the reputations of many Palestinians. Ms Omar surely understands that the world will not allow the destruction of Israel, but will also not support the continued marginalization and destruction of Palestinians. It really is time for great, caring, legitimate leadership to find a road to peace in the Middle East. If I were Ms. Omar, I would focus my attention on facilitating this idea.
3
I agree with Congresswoman Ilham Omar. Israel was once a small weak nation hanging on by its finger nails. That is not the reality today. It is the largest recipient of US foreign aid. It is and economic, military and nuclear power in the Middle East.
It also receives special treatment from the United States. When India and Pakistan developed Nuclear Weapons, they were subject to sanctions. When Israel procured Nuclear Weapons, there were no sanctions or condemnation. When other nations were imposing sanctions on Apartheid South Africa, Israel was trading and supporting that regime. Still there were no repercussions.
Mr. Friedman sees Israel as the Jewish State. I see them only a separate Nation that pursues its own interests in the world. American should be doing the same. I’m not Anti-Israel, nor am I Pro-Israel, I’m pro American.
13
The only sustainable solution is one state, river to sea, and full democratic rights (and responsibilities, including military service) to all citizens, demographics to stabilize in time.
2
Until the state of Israel gives the full equal rights of citizenship to all Arabs within its borders, I cannot support it in its current form. the right of return is much more complicated. It may be that building and expanding the new Jewish state on an ancient homeland that had been historically occupied by peoples who had to be forcibly removed will never be able to be resolved realistically in the present, but full citizenship for all Arabs born and living in Israel is a must if we are to accept it as a full fledged democratic state.
7
@Joanne Karpinski I actually have a plan for Israel's future, so hear me out. Today 80% of Israelis live on just 20% of the land within the Green Line while they aggressively colonize land beyond their borders. It has to stop. A two-state solution is the only way to preserve a Jewish majority in Israel, so get on with it.
Let the Israelis launch a NASA-style program to develop innovative infrastructure, cities and housing in their own Negev, now all but uninhabited. This would be the ideal place and the ideal way to relocate West Bank settlers. The new tech developed would be highly marketable to every desert nations in the era of global warming. Win-win.
Palestinians living inside Israel have full rights, but there is as inAmerica discrimination. They have the right to vote, run for office, own their own houses, are fully incorporated in the health system, attend university at a rate nearly equal to their proportion in the population, have a high attendance in medical and nursing schools, eat and work at the same offices, they are full citizens.The West Bank is a different story, where they can be harassed, and do not gain the same level of service as do Israeli citizens. However, not an insignificant number do gain employment inside Israel. Thus, the focus should be on improving the lot of Palestinians in the West Bank either through Statehood or through Israeli responsibility as an interim measure. However, BDS has through its boycott successfully closed Israeli businesses such as Soda Stream that employed many Palestinians, even in ma agerial position. Sofa Stream. Oved back in Israel where it has continued its policy of employing large number of Arabs, but its move thanks to BDS created unemployment for about 1000 Arabs in the West Bank.
1
''By being specific about the rights of Palestinians to return to their home and not unequivocally committing to a two-state solution, the movement leaves me and many others to believe that B.D.S. is just code for getting rid of the state of Israel.''
And Rep. Omar is on board with that result.
In Minnesota's fifth district there will be a well funded primary challenge to Rep Omar. I would recommend she rent, and not buy in Washington.
4
Two simple thoughts: The whole MiddleEastern crisis between Israel, the Palestinians, and rest of Arab world that the US worked so hard to balance is lost. The connection and empathy millions of informed Americans had for the Palestinians is lost. Trump has destroyed the whole thing. Israel has gained greatly. Do not know what to think any more.
Second, Ilhan Omar is an exciting Rep. So impressive that she was elected to Congress and I hope she becomes a positive force.Omar is every reason to have her beliefs. She totally repeat totally messed up flouting her roots and pro-Palestinian position now-especially in Trump's America. Many on Trump's Right would run her over in a car if they had a chance. I hope she can find her way back into the fold-it will serve us so well.
I don't believe that a democratic republic works well without a separation of church and state. We see a problem with this here in America when far-right Christians claim that we are or should be a Christian nation, that Christianity should be our state religion. So my question is: what about Israel in this regard? Do all the citizens of Israel have equal rights? No, they do not.
5
@Jeff You are incorrect, Jeff-all citizens of Israel DO have equal rights. Jews, Christians and Arabs have equal rights of participation, they vote in the Knesset, the Arab Joint List is the third largest party in Israel, until recently an Arab served on the Israeli Supreme Court, there are Arab policemen, Arabs even in the army, and the spokesperson for the Jerusalem Police force is an Arab woman. All religions, including the Bahai'i who are persecuted elsewhere in the Middle East, have free right of worship. You are confusing the civil rights of Palestinians born in the "territories" outside Israel proper with those of Arab citizens who are born and bred Israelis. The Palestinians living under the PA are citizens of their own state, or Jordanian citizens-Jordan has a majority of citizens of Palestinian descent. I don't know what citizenship the Palestinians who live in Gaza have, since the PA and Hamas are in constant conflict. You don't have citizenship in Canada, even though you are a citizenship of a neighboring country. Same with the Palestinians who live in Gaza and the West Bank territories, some of whom are under Palestinian control, some of them under Israeli, still according to the Oslo accords.
2
Informative article.
Like millions of voters I voted for the Democrats but in voting Democratic
I had no idea Pelosi would give young unvetted Omar a coveted seat on the House Foreign Relations Committee at the get go, immediately upon arriving in the House, ahead of so many much more qualified Democrats.
It really did not take a political genius to guess that Omar's appointment to that high profile Committee would undermine America's Western values and badly hurt the Democratic Party.
8
Mr. Friedman has set forth numerous sound reasons for criticizing Israel under the "leadership" of its corrupt prime minister, Netanayhu, including the expansion of its illegal settlements, and AIPAC and its overreach, including in dealing with members of Congress that put the interests of the above over their obligations under the Constitution, with the example of such members' working with Republicans to give Netanayhu the rare platform and honor of addressing a joint session of Congress and covertly aiding him to undermine American foreign policy and its president most telling and, yes, alarming.
He could have addressed many more concerns, including Israel's undue influence on Trump in moving the American embassy to Jerusalem, opposed by past presidents of both parties and destructive of the peace process, and denying aid to Palestinians, including starving children.
He goes on, however, to state suspicions arising from a Muslim Congresswoman's expression of her similar concerns which, I have no doubt, many (not Mr Friedman) are despicably labeling antisemitic to silence her and her First Amendment rights, not just as a critic of Israel and its powerful lobbyists but as a Muslim and a woman.
I hope that the Congresswoman reads this column and understands how "necessary" it is to speak especially carefully when dealing with matters involving Israel but, with such understanding, that she will continue to fight the injustices and the obvious campaign to silence her.
8
I may not like everything Omar says or the way she says it, but at least she is talking about a subject that many Americans have found forbidden and never hear any meaningful discussion about. Israel is just too much of our national focus. I want to hear on the news about all the wonderful infrastructure we are now putting in and interviews on how universal health care has saved so many lives. But all we get is Israel Israel Israel. At presidential debates inevitably one of the questions is "and so, what will you do for Israel?". Like Hello? Why are you asking that? Pretty soon all the new congressmen will be going on an all expense paid trip to Israel. It's supposed to be educational, but is that not foreign influence? There is a saying "If you want to know who controls you, look at who you can't criticize" and that is Israel.
9
Ms. Omar provides a beneficial service to the country and to the cause of peace: At no small cost, she is raising the issues unresolved in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and keeps them in higher profile.
Israel should be allowed to maintain its 1967 borders. Some agreed-upon adjustments should be made to make its security more viable, and also to facilitate the integrity and facility of a neighboring Palestinian state.
There's a lack of good faith from most if not all the parties in the Middle East conflict, and Israel's lack of good faith leads to valid questioning whether the US should continue to aid it.
Concerns about the US client:
"Jewish democracy" is an oxymoron. A "Jewish religious democracy" more so.
Right of return for Jews only is hypocrisy.
Permanent settlements in occupied lands is hegemony and colonization and an intentional preclusion of any equitable solution and peace.
Declaring sovereignty over the Golan is further hegemony.
Already, I'm sure, there are reader reactions insisting on the legitimacy and primacy of ancient and religious Jewish claims to "Greater Judea and Samaria." Too bad. They weren't recognized. There are many conflicting claims in the region. Get over it.
The US should not base its foreign policy on anyone's religious beliefs, aims or prejudices. We must be an honest broker.
The "they started it" blame game must end. No one's without sin. But must the sins continue? "An eye for an eye" has left everyone blind and enraged.
6
Although Jews are still excluded and experience violence justified by racism, a majority of US Jews also benefit from the privileges of “whiteness.” This apparent duality generates confusion and resentment.
But it’s not a duality. It’s the same oppressive system expressing itself in different ways. So this argument between Rep Omar and Thomas Friedman seems misdirected. We need to find a way to be allies against all forms of subjugation because they stem from the same system.
The Republicans risked the criticism when inviting Bibi to speak because they knew full well it would initiate a process to divide the left. And we’re taking the bait.
The stakes are too high. We have to focus.
3
Peace in Israel is in the hands of Israel proponents in the US, not the Israelis. With pressure from the US and Israeli's left and center, Israel's acceptance on the world stage (in the UN and in moderately-thinking Arab and Muslim peoples) would be complete in less than a generation. It's that simple. The complexity began with the oppression of the Palestinians. Israel's problems on the world stage would end with peace. Israel is not alone in its suppression. The US is built on the backs of black slaves, Chinese and Irish laborers, and of course, the native Americans. The Brits suppressed everyone. By ending such suppression, both countries are accepted without hesitation. Anti-Semitism will take longer to resolve. The existential threat to Israel by way of its proximity to short-range nukes is also a terrible problem. But with worldwide acceptance, the "mutually assured destruction" that would be created on Israel's behalf, from countries like Saudi Arabia and Egypt, in addition to the British and others in Europe, would act to mitigate the existential threat greatly. Praying for peace in the Middle East. Israel's supporters in the US, primarily American Jews, could make it happen.
1
Good points but there are some major misses as well as hits here:
1. Criticizing AIPAC is not inherently an accusation of dual loyalty. Whether the criticizer is a new member of a Congress or a long-standing columnist.
2. Not voting for a horribly distorted, undemocratic and unAmerican anti-BDS bill (Rubio's recent stunt at Netanyahu pandering), does not necessarily mean support for BDS. Any more than realizing that G.W. Bush's massive blundering in Iraq (not as obvious to some as it should have been at the time) meant support for Saddam Hussein.
3. How can a distorted and overhyped semantics debate constitute a "missed leadership opportunity"? If Congress as a whole is dysfunctional, that is not a leadership problem as much as a competency problem (and to some extent, a problem of deficient civics knowledge among voters responsible for electing the most shamefully derelict Congress in decades).
6
We've been repetitively told and told again in no uncertain terms by our politicians, pundits, and media that any criticism of Israel's government is anti-Semitic.
It's most certainly is not. Conflating these two is a coordinated effort to cover up the mendacious policies and actions of Mr Binyamin Netanyahu and his right wing government.
As American citizens we have the absolute right to criticize our very own government, and any other government ...without being labelled as anti that or anti that.
As a codicil for those who don't realize it: the United States provides Israel a staggering $10 million a day in aid...and has given it $252 billion since 1948.
Congresswoman Ilhan Omar is to be commended for her courage.
The ancient patriarchy in the Congress will soon be extinct, replaced by young forward-thinking elected officials whose love and patriotism for our country transcends any other loyalty to any other ideology/country.
6
This is a well thought out article explaining the issue so many of us have with Ilhan Omar's (perhaps?) lack of understanding of the situation. Her views on the Israeli Palestinian issue are biased and often uninformed.
I wonder where she stands on the issue of taking back those US citizens who acted on their 'dual loyalties' by leaving the US to join ISIS?
The fact seems to be, unfortunately, that a lot of the newer members of congress are inexperienced and outspoken in a thoughtless way. The lack of awareness of the impact of their words reminds me of our current president .
5
Thank you, sir, for your wisdom in explaining the controversy surrounding the congresswoman and Aipac. I knew it was powerful, and you have shown how Aipac has changed from bipartisan to partisan, to the detriment of Israeli-Palestinian relations and peace. Unfortunately, the congresswoman’s recent statements lack appreciation for the subtleties essential to international diplomacy, to the detriment of all involved.
4
Interesting that Mr. Friedman says that he is no different from Italian-Americans, Irish-Americans, Indian-Americans in how "they" feel about their ancestral homelands. Which one of those homelands is a state support of terrorism? Which one of those homelands is "occupying someone else's land?" Which of of those homelands has such a "powerful lobbying organization" and in return is "receiving billions in aid" in support of state terrorism? We are not ignorant of the fact the AIPAC money is "buying" U.S. Congressional officials. To what purpose? Answer those questions and I'll start to look at your criticisms of Rep. Omar.
3
as you say ... a wasted opportunity and a huge distraction from a greater agenda ... one reason I am increasingly becoming an independent .... both parties increasingly make me feel like giving up on this system we have evolved of right vs left
1
Strong, Thomas, really strong. We need your voice and Ilhan needs your advice. paul in bessemer
4
I believe that Rep. Omar would deny that Israel was your ancestral land. You weren't born there, neither were your parents. Your ancestral land might be somewhere in Eastern Europe. And that is the problem with Rep. Omar. It seems as though her real objection isn't the 1967 line, but the 1948 line. Does she believe Israel has a right to a State, in any border? I'm guessing the answer is No.
5
"...to reflect the best of Jewish and democratic values." That sounds wonderful until one remembers that is not what Bibi espouses or reflects today. He wants a Jewish state for Jews. Democracy, read otherwise as self-determination for all citizens of a nation, is a far distant second consideration for this man.
Ms Omar is my representative in Congress and I heard her speak on this very subject and I was in wholehearted agreement with her. Unlike the bigot Steve King from my next-door state, she is new to Congress and unaccustomed to the spotlight in her eyes with every statement she makes. For that, I will give her every benefit of the doubt this early into her term. However, she was correct and remains correct that to be anti-Israeli government policy is not the equivalent of being anti-Semitic. To expose that hypocrisy is worthy of admiration.
5
"... has never criticized the Palestinian leadership for its corruption and failure — time and again — to seize on peace overtures from Israeli leaders who, unlike Netanyahu, actually wanted to forge a two-state solution ..."
This seems like a disingenuous given that Netanyahu has been Prime Minister for the last decade.
Surprisingly I agreed with Mr Friedman on several points, like his opposition to AIPAC's slavish loyalty to Netanyahu and his opposition to anti-BDS bills, but he's not strong enough against Israel's colonization of the West Bank and the denial of their basic rights. Either a two-state or a one-state solution requires an adherence to basic human rights. As for past so-called Israeli offers for a two-state solution was vitiated by their continual theft of land with new settlements and the expansion of existing settlements, both a violation of a Geneva Convention on occupied territories.
I and many of my LGBT friends support Israel because it's one of the very few, if not only places, we can visit in the Middle East and be openly gay without worrying about our safety or our lives. Supporters of BDS call it "pinkwashing" but we call it common human decency and we all appreciate and love Israel for appreciating and loving us for who we are - and welcoming us in a way too few places do. Israel has a special place in the hearts of LGBT people everywhere and that's not changing anytime soon.
7
Thank you very much for this article.
408
@Stefan Zweig
Give Omar the space to respond to this position by Friedman. I am sure she will give us all a more objective
picture of what is actually happening.
15
Omar's criticism of Israel to date has taken the form of only low-substance tweets and one-off comments, some of which have been deemed offensive.
Let's do this: have Omar on a panel that consists of both Israel detractors and supporters. I would love to hear her actually engage in a long-form discussion of the issues surrounding Israel, which as we all know are enormously complex. I suspect that she is actually poorly informed on the topic, as she says nothing about it on her website, but I am totally open to being proven wrong.
7
Rep. Omar has the guts to say what many Americans think: unconditional support of Israel (mainly it's right-wing. corrupt leadership under Netanyahu) is wrong and unnecessary. I don't think any American progressives hate Israel as an entity. But they can't stand the callous and cruel behavior towards Palestinians from corrupt Bibi and his cohort. I think once Israel comes to its senses and gets rid of Bibi it will be more respected and there can eventually be a path to a 2-state solution, which is frankly the only solution.
5
The point is that one can debate policies without attacking the motives or loyalty of those you disagree with. Might it be remarks like these that open Omar to questions about antisemitism?
"So for me, I want to talk about the political influence in this country that says it is okay for people to push for allegiance to a foreign country."
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/3/6/18251639/ilhan-omar-israel-anti-semitism-jews
1
You can keep telling yourself this, but it doesn't ring true especially with the younger generation..."If she thinks the only reason that Americans support Israel is because of Aipac and campaign contributions, she is dead wrong. Americans’ affinity with Israel is rooted in a respect for Israel’s ability to maintain a democracy, albeit with flaws, in a sea of autocratic regimes; it is rooted in a Judeo-Christian religious affinity..."
As I watch this discussion unfold, I'm left with the conclusion that it is not politic for non-Jews to criticize Israel. Folks are very quick to label criticism from non-Jews as anti-Semitic and Jews making some claim to moral high ground.
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Thomas Friedman, as usual, produces a well-written opinion piece which is critical of the Netanyahu regime and the overreach of APAC, but at the same time promotes the party lines of the Netanyahu regime that aim to demonize any and all of those that seriously challenge Israeli policies and actions. In this piece he attacks Omar and the BDS movement. In his piece of yesterday he tried to (again) demonized Iran.
He always skillfully avoids any discussion of international law and freedom of speech.
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"I do not believe in passing laws against B.D.S. — people can boycott whomever they want —" Twenty six states have in fact passed laws that do just this. At who's behest? If state laws are anything like the ones we see passed by Congress, some interest group had a heavy hand in writing and getting these laws passed. This lends to the criticism of AIPAC. If you can be punished in the USA for speaking in support of BDS, it is in fact, requiring you to affirm some form of support of Israel. This is objectionable. Until this is rooted out, Rep. Omar should speak up and bring her concerns to the American people.
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And one more suggestion for Rep. Omar: Stay off Twitter! As everybody's mother has told them...If you don't have something nice to say about someone, don't say anything at all.
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I'd love to see you interview her and ask her point blank about whether Israel has a right to exist. It's not doing anyone any favors to operate from supposition and innuendo.
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What if Omar doesn’t want a two state solution? What if she wants only one democratic and secular state to be in the region, which quite possibly would have a majority of Palestinians and a minority of Jews and no longer call itself “Israel’ or “a Jewish state”. Is that desire anti-Semitic? Is it immoral?
If you think so, contrast it with Friedman’s desire. Friedman wants a two-state solution, and for some reason takes it at a given that his desired result is a moral good. But (absent mass ethnic cleansing), any “Jewish” state is going to have millions of Muslim Palestinians in it. The best those Palestinians could hope for is to be like the current “Arab citizens” of Israel. I.e., they would be Muslim Palestinians, with a separate religious and cultural identity, living in a Jewish state (likely as second class citizens). How is that scenario morally superior to the one-state scenario above?
I suppose in a two-state solution there would be a Palestinian state that those unhappy Israeli Palestinians could presumably run to, but that really ignores the fact that those living in Israel are ALREADY home. That is, they are already living in their ancestral homeland (not some place they’ve emigrated to) and, as such, are being forced to live in a nation (Israel) that defines itself in a way that is antithetical to their culture and their religion. And, they have no legitimate democratic way to change that (as they would be a permanently gerrymandered minority).
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@Spyrelx May I guess that you've never actually been there? The Israeli Arabs serve in the parliament, they attend the same universities, ride the same transport, shop in the same markets. Hebrew and Arabic are the two official languages of Israel. The streets and highways are all marked in both languages.
They are hardly second class citizens.
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@David G. I highly recommend the eye-opening exercise of reading the Israeli press daily.
At this very moment, Netanyahu has embraced an anti-Arab party so virulent it has been likened to the KKK and named a terrorist group by the US State Department. At this very moment he is questioning the legitimacy of Arab MKs, saying they support terrorist groups.
Arabic was downgraded from an official language in the "Jewish State" bill adopted last year, which says only Jewish citizens are entitled to "national self-determination" and codifies into law the ability to exclude Arabs from Jewish communities.
The Israeli High Court two years ago ruled that religion, not place of birth, was the basis of citizenship. And that the founding of Israel did not create "a common peoplehood." Maybe it is you who are unfamiliar with Israel today.
@David G.
I've been there. They are.
First, I thank Mr. Friedman for clarifying for me the core mission of the BDS movement, that is in effect destruction of the state of Israel. It seems that BDS is just another antisemitic or anti-jewish (no real difference, even though many non-jews are semitic) manifestation of the Western society. Second, I think AIPAC needs to reflect jewish opinion in our country rather than Israel. The Jewish population in USA is mainly liberal, and AIPAC should not forget that. Unfortunately, pacs like AIPAC are often captured by extremists (like the NRA, for example), and their recent criticism of Otzma Yehudit is cosmetic at best. Jewish Democrats and their allies need to issue a blunt warning to AIPAC and proceed to create organizations that advocate security and military support of Israel while remaining committed to democracy in Israel. Thank you, Mr. Friedman for your trenchant criticism of AIPAC.
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It is not so tough to criticize Israel while affirming its right to exist as a Jewish state in the Middle East. I do it all the time, and Omar can criticize AIPAC, Israel, and Netanyahu all she wants. However, if she opposes Israel as a Jewish state, and opposes no other state's right to exist, accuses American Jews of dual loyalty, and of buying off legislators and executives, that's another story. That's bigoted. And that is just what she did and does. Omar has proved herself an anti-Semite by repeating her slurs even after apologizing for them. It is up to the Democratic party to figure out whom it wants to embrace. Omar, or voters.
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''I always put America first, but I want to see Israel thrive — just like many Irish-Americans, Italian-Americans, Indian-Americans and others feel about their ancestral homelands.'' - How about for Native Americans ? What about THEIR ancestral homelands?
Ah, I can see hypocritical gears churning.
The problem as I see it ( I can only speak for meself) is that when we talk about religion, and then mix in ''borders'' (man made lines on a piece of paper) as absolutes, then we are always going to create strife and conflict.
Nothing in this world is absolute and there are no lines on a piece of paper that were preordained by any one higher power or another.
Having said that, there indeed has to be a two state solution (we all agree on that), and there has to be a decoupling of ALL lobbying arms (for whatever side) from both the United States government and all other ones. I would submit that no reasonable agreement will be made until there are Liberal governments/representatives all around.
That many just happen as the stars align for such an occurrence in the next couple of years. We shall see.
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There should be an American Indian Public Affairs Committee dedicated to establishing a homeland for Native Americans in their ancestral lands, starting with the island of Manhattan.
“The population of African and Eurasian peoples in the Americas grew steadily, while the indigenous population plummeted. Eurasian diseases such as influenza, pneumonic plagues, and smallpox devastated the Native Americans, who did not have immunity to them. Conflict and outright warfare with Western European newcomers and other American tribes further reduced populations and disrupted traditional societies. The extent and causes of the decline have long been a subject of academic debate, along with its characterization as a genocide.”
".....but God save me from their American friends." And God save Congresswoman Omar from her American critics. She has also been highly critical of the Saudis and other Arab nations which has received almost no coverage what so ever. She is the face of a new generation which has different opinions than you Mr. Friedman but thank you for giving us a chance to read the similarities that you share. Your column will help us save you from your American friends now lets help Congresswoman Omar from her American critics.
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''I always put America first, but I want to see I.sra.el thrive — just like many Irish-Americans, Italian-Americans, Indian-Americans and others feel about their ancestral homelands.'' - How about for N.ativ.e Americans ? What about THEIR ancestral homelands?
Ah, I can see intellectually dishonest gears churning.
The problem as I see it, is that when we talk about religion, and then mix in ''borders'' (man made lines on a piece of paper) as absolutes, then we are always going to create strife and conflict.
Nothing in this world is absolute and there are no lines on a piece of paper that were preordained by any one higher power or another.
Having said that, there indeed has to be a two state solution (we all agree on that), and there has to be a decoupling of ALL lobbying arms (for whatever side) from both the United States government and all other ones. I would submit that no reasonable agreement will be made until there are Liberal governments/representatives all around.
That many just happen as the stars align for such an occurrence in the next couple of years.
We shall see.
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How much longer should people of goodwill be expected to wait for a reasonable solution Mr. Friedman? Israel is morphing into an apartheid state. Its' leadership corrupt and indicted. Israel Jews are embracing increasingly authoritarian political ideologies that are a threat to democratic values and religious tolerance. The Palestinians in Gaza are suffering in a cauldron of despair and desperation imposed by an authoritarian regime in Egypt and a repulsive regime in Israel. How much more land will Israel annex in the West Bank Mr. Friedman? Many people of goodwill have reached the end of the road of when it comes to tolerating the behavior of Israel. We have waited long enough for Israel to do the right thing. Instead, they have imperiled the two-state solution, they have elected leaders who threaten democracy itself, they have chosen a 'Jewish State' over a democratic state and they have aligned themselves with rightwing kooks in the U.S. We cannot abide with this any longer. Boycotts, vast reductions in foreign aid and international isolation are the correct next steps for American policy in the post-Trump era when we must eventually come to terms with a reprobate Israeli regime. I stand with Ilhan Omar and the decent mid-western, Minnesota (i.e., American) values she espouses.
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Criticizing Israel for their treatment of Palestinians is only anti-Semitic if you agree that criticizing England for its treatment of Ireland, India, and a host of other former colonies is anti-Anglo.
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@nora m
Nice try. But I tend to think we're outnumbered on this one -- which is exactly why Americans who disagree with Donald Trump are being categorized as "un-patriotic".
Good thing we still have a U.S. Constitution and the 1st Amendment.
I wonder what the purpose of this opinion piece is. I don't feel it contributes much to the conversation. I can only imagine it helps Thomas Friedman feel better. It confirms the notion that AIPAC is problematic. It repeats the notion that there is a lot of disagreement about boycott and disinvestment movement. But I also think it continues the confusion over whether someone can criticize Israel and its policies without being called either anti-semitic or anti-Israel. I have read several articles describing the Congresswoman's comments and found them generally critiques of Israeli policy. I cannot vouch for all her ideas or positions, but I do think her critics make it difficult to separate legitimate criticisms from antisemitism. I wish Thomas Friedman had been able to say that he would like the all people to thrive, without hyphens.
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Israel as it current exists is not sustainable. The Palestinian leadership has been abysmal and led on by local states opposed to Israel so Palestinian leadership have failed their own people and encouraged Israeli misbehaviour.
Having a representative like Ilhan Omar speak to some of the many problems that Aipac and Netenyahue have caused is good for Israel and the U.S. though some concern over Omar's long term intentions on Israel is merited far more important is the spotlight on Aipac's outrageous actions her comments have led to.
Whatever Omar really thinks about Israel's right to exist, she does not have any control on that outcome but Aipac is misbehaving right now and Omar can affect that positively by keeping the spotlight on the fact Aipac has chosen sides in the politics of authoritarianism with Netenyahue and simultaneously the electoral hopes of the Republican party here in the states.
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What BDS is about is repatriating displaced Palestinians, reparations for land theft and creating a true secular democracy. If you want to call it a two state or a one state, it doesn't matter. The fact is there are thousands of Palestinian refugees living in deplorable conditions and some people are just not okay with this. Along with historical displacement, the continued theft of Palestinian land and resources (like water or access to the coastline...with the attending financial benefits that brings); it needs to stop. Pointing this out is not anti-semitic, it's seeking justice for people who have had a boot on their necks for 60+ years (courtesy of the support from the US government). A fully Jewish State would be fine, in theory, except for the fact that this one (Israel) supplanted a nation of people who have been living there for millennium (and science proves that). Israel should for its future survival understand this and repatriate Palestinian Refugees (and pay reparations). Israel's 60 decades of actions (neck under boot) are short sighted and frankly, not tactical.
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@Christina
the Palestinian population left their homes and town in the war of independence, of their own volition, thinking that they would return after Israel lost.
surprise. The israeli govt owes them nothing.
And what govt wants people who want the collapse of the govt to return.
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Ilhan Omar grew up a Somali refugee in America's cold northern country (I too once lived in Minneapolis). Her worldview will be different from 90% of Americans. Our politics demand we believe in compromises, otherwise we would constantly litigate civil rights, integration, apartheid etc. Those compromises are why the black representative from Baltimore can say the Obama birther from North Carolina is his best friend! Ilhan Omar gives me the impression that she does not want to live under those compromises... She believes our great lie, that American politics is about debate and discussion not emotions, shaming and latent prejudice. She will not last long unless she learns to play the game like Elijah Cummings and Mark Meadows. Politics stopped being credible decades ago. It is hard to believe we once had an American President that stood up to AIPAC and vetoed US credits guarantees to Israel because they were building settlements on land the US designated as Palestinian homeland! A Republican who even went to far as to hold a press conference on the lawn of the WH and remind Israel, American best had risked life and limb to protect them from then number one enemy Saddam Hussein.
We will miss George H.W. Bush in more ways than one.
''I always put America first, but I want to see Israel thrive — just like many Irish-Americans, Italian-Americans, Indian-Americans and others feel about their ancestral homelands.'' - How about for Native Americans ? What about THEIR ancestral homelands?
Ah, I can see intellectually dishonest gears churning.
The problem as I see it, is that when we talk about religion, and then mix in ''borders'' (man made lines on a piece of paper) as absolutes, then we are always going to create strife and conflict.
Nothing in this world is absolute and there are no lines on a piece of paper that were preordained by any one higher power or another.
Having said that, there indeed has to be a two state solution (we all agree on that), and there has to be a decoupling of ALL lobbying arms (for whatever side) from both the United States government and all other ones. I would submit that no reasonable agreement will be made until there are Liberal governments/representatives all around.
That many just happen as the stars align for such an occurrence in the next couple of years.
We shall see.
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@FunkyIrishman
Good point.
And while we're at it, what about African-Americans?
Mr. Friedman didn't even give them a passing glance, even though it was the blood and sweat of their brows built this country into the land that would categorically and continually seek to disenfranchise them.
Sorry. But the sheer hypocrisy of it all is astounding.
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"I strongly believe in the right of the Jewish people to build a nation-state in their ancient homeland"
And the rights of the native Palestinians?
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Who gets to criticize Israel without be called anti-semitic?
Would Ilan Omar be able to say what Thomas Friedman said?
Is it a fact that she is not listening to the Jewish community in her district? I'm not so sure.
And yes, Ilhan Omar (and US policy makers) should look at the wrongs of the Palestinian side too.
It's just that the Palestinians are the ones who are getting clobbered.
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I don’t think the Congresswoman is advocating for the State of Israel to be disbanded. But with the influence of AIPAC in America being what it is, it is difficult to criticize the State of Israel. And criticize it we must, the State of Israel continues to perpetuate an injustice which cannot be overlooked.
One can certainly be opposed to Benjamin Netanyahu and the state of Israel. The Israeli state is a de facto theocracy like its de jure theocratic neighbors. Unlike its neighbors, Israel uses the most democratic process to be found in the Middle East with which to change its Jewish leadership. But make no mistake, Israel is a theocracy.
Ms Omar is a Muslim who is opposed to Israel and sees Israel as a theocratic opponent that oppresses fellow Muslims, especially Palestinians. She also believes that the state of Israel, through AIPAC and other venues, exerts far too much influence over American foreign policy.
Ms Omar is right. Israel has far too much influence over American governance, not just politics.
We forget sometimes that inviting Russia to interfere in American politics is not very different than inviting Israel to do the same, albeit by different methods.
Ms Omar may or may not be anti-Semitic. For all we know, she may be the blustering equivalent of Iowa's Steve King substituting anti-Semitic tropes for white supremacist rantings all the time masquerading as a misunderstood politician.
Time will tell. In the meantime, she might think that the more she repeats the anti-Semitic code tropes made famous by Mr Farrakhan and others of similar stripe, the more she loses her credibility with everyone outside her tribe.
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Maybe it's time to end subsidies to Israel. There are lots of problems in the U.S. that needs the capital, ie: healthcare for all.
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The history of the Middle East is complex and I will not feign to understand it all. One major issue is the Israeli Palestinian conflict, amongst others. Israel was formed by driving Palestinians out of their homes and lands. Of course, the historical question is who was there first. Irrespective, both sides need to learn to live peacefully side by side. If one sees the Israeli subjugation of Palestinian people as a form of apartheid, then the BDS movement makes sense. It is not intended to remove the state of Israel, just like the divestiture movement against South Africa wasn't meant to drive away all whites. It is an attempt at justice and equality
You can demonize all you want, Mr. Friedman, but B.D.S. is not " just code for getting rid of the state of Israel".
The Israeli settlements are ILLEGAL under international law. There is no disputing that. I'm a big fan of international law. It's how we maintain and uphold common values. Nobody minds criticism of China or Russia for violating international law, why is the same not true of Israel? And in this country - the United States - people have the freedom to speak out politically, including with their wallets.
This is just more of the same, unfortunately, from the Israeli lobby. Anything and anyone critical of Israeli policy is anti-Semitic. And that is just absolute garbage, I'm sorry.
I am a lifelong Democrat, and there is very little I agree with the far left of my party on. This happens to be one. Nothing she has said is controversial or "anti-Israeli" in any way. In fact, quite the opposite. If Israel stopped breaking international law with impunity and the support of the United States government, perhaps more people would support it. I know I would. Instead they commit war crimes against people throwing stones (per the opinion of the UN Commission on Human Rights) and nobody seems to care. Well I do.
Whatever it takes to bring Israel back in line with international and legal norms is fine with me.
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I aim to watch Ms. Omar quietly to see if she is the "Jew hater" many paint her to be. I am, however, exhausted by the hyperbole on both sides of the aisle. I just want the House to get back to work on the real issues at hand, investigations, election reforms, healthcare, public education, ad infinitum. I loved the idea of a sit-down for Ms. Omar and Mr. Friedman. They are likely to be able to listen to each other with respect. If only that same willingness would be expressed toward her by any Republican...
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I have no skin in this game, raised Baptist, now proudly atheist. I agree 100 percent with what you’ve written. WE are being used and abused by Right Wing Israeli politicians, for their own purposes. Let them think and do as they wish, but with their own Money. I’m beyond tired of supporting people and policies that do not further the interests of the USA, and being vilified for the
“ privilege “. ENOUGH.
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Mr Friedman, it's your right to disagree with her stance on BDS. But you need to stop making up things that Rep. Omar has never said. She has never accused American Jews of having dual loyalty. That's a dishonest smear and you know it. She said "I want to talk about the political influence in this country that says it is okay for people to push for allegiance to a foreign country." She also tweeted: "I should not be expected to have allegiance/pledge support to a foreign country in order to serve my country in Congress or serve on committee." Which part of what she said and tweeted accuses Jews of dual loyalty?
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Thank you for giving us an in-depth look at some of the less sanguine elements of the B.D.S. platform, and the strong tinge of anti-Semitism that resides within it, as well as a reminder of AIPAC's overly partisan behaviors. And as a Minnesota native, I, too, was pleased that my former state continued to show its better self in electing a hijab-wearing Muslim woman.
I have, up to now, wanted to excuse some of Ilhan Omar's statements about Aipac as perhaps inartful in their seemingly anti-Semitic tone. I agreed with her and others that AIPAC has become a partisan tool for interests in both the US and Israel who oppose a two-state solution and willing to give a pass on Israel's human rights abuses to Palestinian residents in the occupied territories.
But her statement denouncing those who "support allegiance to a foreign country," together with much of the sub-text of the BDS movement, has crossed the line. I want to support Omar and other progressives who call out Aipac and its corrosive influence undermining a two-state solution. However, if she does not issue an apology for that statement or otherwise reveals herself to be an anti-Semite, she will undermine all the good she can do for all Muslim-Americans and for all Americans who are proud of our nation's pluralism.
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So who, outside of Aipac -- but inside the Israeli lobby community -- stands ready to meet with Omar and offer her a means of exercising -- should she choose to -- those impressive "humanistic instincts"?
In addition to speaking her mind, Rep. Omar owes her constituents demonstrations of her willingness to open her mind. That doesn't men she must change it -- and on Aipac's rigidity and strategy I, like Friedman, don't believe she needs to -- but not showing an active desire to learn is a form of rigidity too.
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An outstanding commentary.
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The optics of this are not good for congress, at a time when it's critical for them to get it right.
The backlash against Rep. Omar was so immediate and forceful and loud that it looks pathetically hypocritical. No other minority commands this much protection, and Rep. Omar, for example, sure needs it.
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One should always think far enough ahead to recognize when an organization one is creating is likely to ultimately become your worst nightmare. AIPAC, created by the very liberal I.L. Kenin, has become a reactionary instrument inflicting heavy damage on both Israeli and American politics.
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