US Lawmakers Target Muslim Congresswoman Ilhan Omar Over Anti-Israel Tweet

Democratic lawmakers are calling on the US House of Representatives to take unspecified steps to push back against Muslim-American Congresswoman Ilhan Omar after she issued a statement on Twitter implying that support for Israel in Congress is purchased by Jewish-backed advocacy groups

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 11th February, 2019) Democratic lawmakers are calling on the US House of Representatives to take unspecified steps to push back against Muslim-American Congresswoman Ilhan Omar after she issued a statement on Twitter implying that support for Israel in Congress is purchased by Jewish-backed advocacy groups.

Congressmen Josh Gottheimer and Elaine Luria, who are both Jewish, are collecting signatures for a letter, obtained by Politico on Monday, that they plan to send to Democratic leaders expressing outrage over Omar's latest remarks.

"We must speak out when any Member - Democrat or Republican - uses harmful tropes and stereotypes, levels accusations of dual loyalty, or makes reckless statements like those yesterday," the lawmakers wrote in the letter, as quoted by the newspaper.

Omar tweeted on Sunday, "It's all about the Benjamins baby," using slang for a US $100 bill in a message suggesting that US support for Israeli had been purchased through groups such as the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).

"When someone uses hateful and offensive tropes against people of any faith, I will not be silent," Democratic Congressman Max Rose tweeted. "Congresswoman Omar's statements are deeply hurtful to Jews, including myself."

Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley also weighed in, tweeting, "To see this at the UN was a fight every day."

Haley continued that such language cannot be tolerated in Congress by anyone of either major political party.

"In a time of increased anti-Semitism, we all must be held to account. No excuses," Haley said.

The latest criticism of Omar came less than a month since the congresswoman apologized for previous anti-Semitic comments, according to a report by the advocacy group Clarion Project.