The Shameful Attack that Backfired

Ilhan Omar (Fibonacci Blue via Flickr)

by James J. Zogby

What happened to Congresswoman Ilhan Omar was troubling. On the one hand, because she dared to challenge the way supporters of Israel have worked to silence debate on U.S. policy toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, she became a victim of incitement, and the target of legislation meant to shame her. At the same time, however, the heavy-handed tactics employed against her by some pro-Israel members of Congress backfired, exposing new fault lines in the U.S.-Israel relationship.


During Israel’s assault on Gaza, for example, she criticized the failure of the U.S. media to pierce through Israeli propaganda and see what was actually happening to Palestinians in that impoverished strip of land. Once in Congress, she was deemed to have “sinned” again when she challenged the power of AIPAC to intimidate politicians and silence debate on Israel/Palestine.







What was disturbing about this proposed resolution was that none of the “whereas” clauses included had anything to do with what Omar actually said. She never accused Jews of “dual loyalty because they support Israel;” nor did she display “prejudicial attitudes” towards Jews; nor did she ever make “mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Jews.”

What she did do was: challenge official American, and in particular, congressional silence on the suffering of the Palestinians, the efforts by pro-Israel groups to silence debate on this issue, and the way that some have sought to create a virtual identity being pro-Israel and American interests.




Outside of the halls of Congress, however, a different reality was unfolding. The attacks on Congresswoman Omar were rejected by many Democrats, including progressive Jewish groups, and a debate was sparked by the issues she raised and the over-reaction to them by Congress.


By week’s end, Congress passed a resolution denouncing all forms of hate or intolerance against any religious, ethnic, or religious community. Since it made no mention of Ilhan, it was clearly a loss for those who began the push to shame or punish her.

Two final points must be made:


And second, it is clear that Omar’s courage has helped to open a door enabling a discussion of Israeli policy and the U.S.-Israel relationship. Although her opponents attempted to slam it shut, it seems that their behavior and incitement against her backfired stirring a debate that has helped to pry the door even further open.


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James Zogby

James Zogby co-founded the Arab American Institute in 1985 and continues to serve as its president. He is Director of Zogby Research Services, a firm that has conducted groundbreaking surveys across the Middle East. For the past 3 decades, he has served in leadership roles in the Democratic National Committee and served 2 terms as a President Obama appointee to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. He writes a weekly column published in 12 countries. He is featured frequently on national and international media as an expert on Middle East affairs. In 2010, Zogby published the highly-acclaimed book, Arab Voices.



  1. Anyone who thinks the resolution was some victory for “progressives” who want to purge Congress of its Zionist taint ought to read it.

    Muslims, blacks, Latinos, Indians…sure, they get am honorable mention as victims of “hate” speech and bigotry.

    But of course it was all about how anti-Semitism is special–that it is first among types of “hate” worthy of condemnation.

    And then there is this:


    But what about that not inconsiderable number of American Jews who are indeed demonstrably more loyal to Israel than to the US–those Israel firsters–you ask?

    The whole point of the anti-Semitism trope is to attack truths that expose Zionist behavior Zionist don’t want exposed.

    And the ENTIRE point of the grotesquely exaggerated attack on Omar–which most of our gutless Congress people were afraid not to join in — was an object lesson for any other young black or Muslim people of conscience who may be thinking of running for Congress or otherwise attaining some position as a platform to denounce Zionism’s extermination of the Palestinian people through resources filched from Americans by a corrupt and subservient Congress: DON’T.

  2. You lack sympathy for Israel. 2000 years living in the diaspora. 6 million Jews killed in the Holocaust. One Middle Eastern country after another declaring war and calling for the destruction of Israel since 1948. Israel’s enemies plot daily on how to destroy her. Please study and try to understand why the Jews coming home is providential. Can you explain it any other way?

  3. If there is a right reason behind any form of emotional hate like”anti-Semitism”, the same reason would work for racism, Islamophobia, Sexism and the rest. But when you use one form of hate against the other for example racism and Islamophobia against anti-Semitism as in the case, it indicates that it is only a tool. New civilizations need an general “Anti-Hate” legislation to avoid similar instrumental-ism.

    My logic says the second sentence should begin, “Since it made NO mention…” Small Word, big meaning!

  5. Mr. Dwyer, thank you for pointing that out. Here is something I noticed.

    A quote by the author of this article:


    “Nor did she ever” ?

    The word “Hypnotized” comes into focus. In 2012 Rep. Omar tweeted, “Israel has hypnotized the world may Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel”.

    The word “ALLEGIANCE” comes into focus. On Feb. 27th at a town hall Rep. Omar said “So for me, I want to talk about the political influence in this country that says it is okay for people to push for allegiance to a foreign country”

    There is a consensus that these comments and others made by Rep. Omar are Anti-Semetic tropes.

    Lastly, I found her apologies to be insincere.

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