Ilhan Omar Says She Supports BDS But Not Iran Sanctions Because BDS ‘Is Driven by the People’

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) told a reporter on Jan. 9 that she supports the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel but not sanctions against Iran because BDS “is driven by the people.”

A day earlier, Omar criticized President Donald Trump’s announcement that he will be implementing new sanctions against Iran. “Sanctions are economic warfare,” Omar tweeted. “They have already caused medical shortages and countless deaths in Iran. You cannot claim to want deescalation and then announce new sanctions with no clear goal. This is not a measured response!”

This makes no sense. Sanctions are economic warfare.

They have already caused medical shortages and countless deaths in Iran.

You cannot claim to want deescalation and then announce new sanctions with no clear goal. This is not a measured response! https://t.co/sGWtwXuNDT

— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) January 8, 2020

When Julio Rosas, a writer for the conservative website Townhall.com, asked Omar to explain her support for BDS and not sanctions against Iran, Omar replied, “The BDS movement is a movement that is driven by the people. The sanctions on Iran are sanctions that are being placed to create maximum pressure by a government. That’s very different.”

I asked Rep. Omar what her response is to those calling out her support for BDS against Israel while criticizing sanctions against Iran. She said it's "very different" bc BDS is by the people, while Iranian sanctions is by a gov to create maximum pressure.https://t.co/3TVNGFpWy1 pic.twitter.com/e2kC3qfllD

— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) January 9, 2020

The Progressive Zionists of Californai said in a statement to the Journal, “This is certainly an interesting comment from Representative Omar, because the “S” in BDS stands for sanctions — asking governments to sanction Israel and Israelis. Every major BDS proponent is completely transparent about this as a goal of their anti-Israel movement. This statement is more evidence that Representative Omar has wildly contradictory and divergent viewpoints when it comes to foreign policy in the Middle East and that she remains out of touch with the Democratic Party.”

Tablet senior writer Yair Rosenberg also criticized Omar’s rationale in a tweet.

“This is false,” he wrote. “The Boycott, Divestment and SANCTIONS movement aims to impose government sanctions on Israel. It’s no secret. It’s on their website. Either Omar doesn’t know what BDS entails (possible! many who sign up for it as a hazy left litmus test don’t) or she’s dissembling.”

https://twitter.com/Yair_Rosenberg/status/1215445117303173124

American Jewish Committee Los Angeles Assistant Director Siamak Kordestani similarly tweeted, “The problem is PEOPLE can’t sanction other governments. People and companies can boycott and divest, but only governments can impose SANCTIONS on nations.”

So Ilhan Omar views sanctions by governments as bad policy but advocacy by people to impose state sanctions as just fine.

The problem is PEOPLE can't sanction other governments.

People & companies can boycott and divest, but only governments can impose SANCTIONS on nations.

— Sia Kordestani (@SiaKordestani) January 10, 2020

Israel-based writer and Journal contributor Hen Mazzig tweeted, “If you see sanctions as so heinous, even countries that murder American citizens and commit genocide don’t deserve them … but then call for them against Israel … you might have a problem with Jews.”

If you see Sanctions as so heinous, even countries that murder American citizens and commit genocide don’t deserve them…

But then call for them against Israel…

You might have a problem with Jews.

— Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) January 10, 2020

In July, Omar introduced a resolution defending the right to boycott. Later in the month, the House of Representatives passed a resolution condemning BDS with 398 votes in favor and 17 against.

This article has been updated.