The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) called out Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) in a tweet for comparing Israel’s nation-state law to Iran.
In a Jan. 30 interview with Yahoo! News, Omar said, “When I see Israel institute a law that recognizes it as a Jewish State and does not recognize the other religions living in it and we still uphold it as a democracy in the Middle East, I almost chuckle because I know if we see that in any other society we would criticize it, we would call it out. We do that to Iran, we do that to any other place that upholds its religion.”
The ADL tweeted in response, “There is no comparison between democratic Israel and repressive theocracies such as Iran, Saudi Arabia, etc.”
“Like all countries, Israel has challenges, but its democratic system protects all its citizens regardless of their religion,” the tweet continued.
Rep. Omar: There is no comparison between democratic Israel and repressive theocracies such as Iran, Saudi Arabia, etc. Like all countries, Israel has challenges, but its democratic system protects all its citizens regardless of their religion. pic.twitter.com/uitXS2zCay
— ADL (@ADL) January 31, 2019
The American Jewish Committee (AJC) similarly tweeted out, “In Israel, Muslims, Christians, and Jews have the same rights and freedoms. Israelis of all faiths participate fully in the country’s democratic institutions.”
“@IlhanMN’s implication that Israel isn’t a democracy isn’t only shameful – it’s just plain wrong,” they added.
In Israel, Muslims, Christians, and Jews have the same rights and freedoms. Israelis of all faiths participate fully in the country's democratic institutions. @IlhanMN's implication that Israel isn’t a democracy isn't only shameful – it's just plain wrong. https://t.co/d3fdzDOD7n
— American Jewish Committee (@AJCGlobal) January 31, 2019
Former New York Assemblyman Dov Hikind also took issue with Omar’s statement.
Who objects to Saudi Arabia being Islamic? Or any of the other 48 Muslim states? The issue with Iran isn’t their state religion; it’s their terror-loving leaders that are condemned. @IlhanMN needs to learn about the world before she’s out of excuses for her antisemitism. https://t.co/zQFiK7PwV1
— Dov Hikind (@HikindDov) January 30, 2019
Omar serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
