To: Rep. Nancy Pelosi (CA-12), The United States House of Representatives, and The United States Senate
Nancy Pelosi and the House: Judge carefully the remarks of Rep. Ilhan Omar.
As your chamber debates and our country comments upon the recent remarks of Rep. Ilhan Omar concerning Israel, a threat has arisen of crossing the thin line that criticizing the State of Israel is anti-Semitic. Israel is a secular democratic state – not a race or religion- and as such can be criticized as any other nation without a claim of prejudice or racism.
Why is this important?
The Trump administration has committed acts of racism and inhumanity with its perceived “border crises”. It is further indifferent to the opinions of a majority of our country that do not support the “wall”, detention of children and the overall lack of concern for the humanitarian crises it has created. Why then, therefore, is it not appropriate to condemn the Israeli government and its leaders for the continuing immoral treatment of the Palestinians, particularly in Gaza. They live in horrible conditions and in complete dependence on Israel for such things as electricity, water, sanitary conditions, along with closed borders and the ongoing retribution for their protests. Most of all they live without hope of having their own sovereign nation.
Let’s not let this debate take what appears to be a turn to discourage free and open debate on important issues.
Let’s not let this debate take what appears to be a turn to discourage free and open debate on important issues.