Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) traded barbs at each other on March 26 after Netanyahu took a not-so-subtle shot at Omar during his AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) Policy Conference speech.
Netanyahu, who was giving his speech via satellite having returned Israel after the country was attacked by rocket fire from the Gaza Strip, said, “My friends, ladies and gentlemen, some people will just never get it. They’ll never understand why the vast majority of Americans – Jews and non-Jews alike – support Israel.”
“Take it from this Benjamin, it’s not about the Benjamins,” Netanyahu said. “The reason the people of America support Israel is not because they want our money, it’s because they share our values.”
Omar, responding to a tweet from New York Times reporter Sheryl Gay Stolberg featuring Netanyahu’s “Benjamins” quote, tweeted, “This from a man facing indictments for bribery and other crimes in three separate public corruption affairs. Next!”
🤔 This from a man facing indictments for bribery and other crimes in three separate public corruption affairs.
Next! https://t.co/BX6qLpISKx
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) March 26, 2019
In a separate Twitter thread, Omar accused Netanyahu of singling her out in his speech while ignoring other issues. Jerusalem Post editor Lahav Harkov responded with her own thread:
He didn’t mention your name and made one oblique reference in a 12-minute speech. Can I recommend getting over yourself? https://t.co/SKEsDpZzuj
— Lahav Harkov (@LahavHarkov) March 26, 2019
I should be sleeping but there is so much nonsense in this thread, so let’s break it down. Netanyahu mentioned Pittsburgh more explicitly than he mentioned you. https://t.co/bBRvmMrXR5
— Lahav Harkov (@LahavHarkov) March 26, 2019
Good, now why don’t you stop turning a blind eye on antisemitism? https://t.co/R3oZMidou2
— Lahav Harkov (@LahavHarkov) March 26, 2019
Wrong on AIPAC and Oslo https://t.co/PAyklvbjAK
— Lahav Harkov (@LahavHarkov) March 26, 2019
Netanyahu enacted a settlement freeze for 10 months. It was Abbas who refused to negotiate. https://t.co/pLSNHNmk3t
— Lahav Harkov (@LahavHarkov) March 26, 2019
It’s pathetic, really. There are arguments to be made on the subject of AIPAC or Netanyahu that aren’t unhinged – she even hinted at some in this thread – yet she just can’t seem to stick with those.
— Lahav Harkov (@LahavHarkov) March 26, 2019
In February, Omar tweeted, “It’s all about the Benjamins” in response to a tweet noting that House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) was calling on Omar to be disciplined for her anti-Israel statements. She later responded that “AIPAC” was buying off political support for Israel; both tweets were subsequently deleted and Omar issued an apology.
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