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Some Misconceptions about the Ilhan Omar Affair
(Washington Post) Charles Lane - The first misconception is that Omar faced a vehement negative reaction because she offered "criticism of U.S. policy toward Israel" (Wall Street Journal) or of the Israeli government. Incorrect. Omar offered no new criticism of U.S. policy or what she has called "the apartheid Israeli regime." What she did was to attack Israel's supporters in the U.S., and specifically in Congress. She did so by suggesting their motives were corrupt: either to enforce "allegiance to a foreign country" or to accumulate political cash from pro-Israel lobbyists. Moreover, it is simply not the case that support for Israel in a country where 59% of the public favors Israel over the Palestinians is merely a function of AIPAC's influence. It should have been possible for Omar to point out what's wrong with U.S. and Israeli policy without questioning the good faith of those who think differently.