Washington, DC – The lower house approved today by a large majority a resolution against “anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, racism and other forms of intolerance,” following the controversy generated by the comments of Muslim lawmaker Ilhan Omar, considered “anti-Semitic” by several sectors.
The measure was approved with 407 votes in favor and 23 against, the latter all of Republicans.
One of the legislators who voted against, the representative for Texas Louie Gohmert, lamented today in a speech in plenary that the language of the bill had been “diluted” instead of explicitly condemning Omar’s comments.
Omar, one of the first two Muslims to be elected to Congress in the last legislative elections, suggested last week that supporters of the Israeli state in the country are “loyal” to Israel.
“I want to talk about the political influence in this country that says it’s good for people to promote loyalty to a foreign country (Israel),” the lawmaker said during a forum.
This statement annoyed certain sectors of society, including Jewish members of the Democratic Party.
Omar had already published two messages on Twitter in February that were labeled “anti-Semitic.”
In the first, Omar responded “everything is about the Bejamins, baby” (referring to the $ 100 bills) to a tweet by journalist Glenn Greenwald, who said that the Republican leader “Kevin McCarthy threatens to punish @IlhanMN (Ilhan) Omar) and @RashidaTlaib (Muslim congresswoman Rashida Tlaib) for their criticism of Israel. “
“It’s amazing how much time US political leaders spend defending a foreign nation even if it means attacking rights to freedom of expression,” said Greenwald, who attached a news link to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.
The president of the lower house, Democrat Nancy Pelosi, said today that Omar “did not measure well the weight of his words,” although he said he does not think the congresswoman is anti-Semitic.
The resolution approved this Thursday “encourages all public officials to face the reality of anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, racism and other forms of intolerance, as well as the historical struggles against them.” (EFEUSA)
