Manifest Destiny in the Middle East

(Why Ilhan Omar Was Right)

On Monday, June 7th, Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar tweeted “We must have the same level of accountability and justice for all victims of crimes against humanity. We have seen unthinkable atrocities committed by the U.S., Hamas, Israel, Afghanistan, and the Taliban.”

Almost immediately, accusations of anti-Semitism and cries of false equivalency began to flood in from her congressional colleagues, including from House leadership as well as many other members of her own Democratic caucus.

For instance, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer released a joint statement that read, in part, “Drawing false equivalencies between democracies like the US and Israel and groups that engage in terrorism like Hamas and the Taliban foments prejudice and undermines progress toward a future of peace and security for all.”

This was soon followed by a statement from Jewish Democrats (led by Representative Bradley Schneider of Illinois), who said, “Equating the United States and Israel to Hamas and the Taliban is as offensive as it is misguided. Ignoring the differences between democracies governed by the rule of law and contemptible organizations that engage in terrorism at best discredits one’s intended argument and at worst reflects deep-seated…