U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar bucked most of her fellow House Democrats this week as one of only nine members to oppose $1 billion for Israel's Iron Dome defense system.
Omar, a defender of Palestinian human rights and prominent congressional critic of Israel's government, has faced bipartisan controversy during her time in office when it comes to Israel.
Omar declined an interview request on Friday, but in a series of tweets ahead of Thursday's vote, the Minnesota Democrat said that "given the human rights violations in Gaza, Sheikh Jarrah, and ever-growing settlement expansion, we should not be ramming through a last-minute $1 billion increase in military funding for Israel without any accountability." She added in a later tweet, "we continue to pay lip service to human rights, peace and a two state solution. Yet we also continue to provide Israel with funding without addressing the underlying issue of the occupation."
While one Republican and a few other progressives in the group known as the "Squad" also voted no on the bill Thursday, the House overwhelmingly passed the measure by a vote of 420-9. Omar's vote was sharply criticized by Steve Hunegs, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas (JCRC). "The unfortunate no vote of Representative Omar repudiates in starkest terms essential life or death protection for all who live in Israel," he said.
But Lana Barkawi, a Palestinian American and executive director of the arts organization Mizna, defended Omar's vote. Barkawi, a Minneapolis resident who has donated to Omar's campaign and appeared with her at a 2019 news conference after Israel denied Omar entry to the country, said that "it was really important to take the stand that she took and I know that there are Palestinians and allies across her district who feel the same way."
The decision put Omar at odds with the rest of Minnesota's U.S. House delegation. All four Republicans and Minnesota's three other Democrats in the chamber voted in support of the legislation.
"The Iron Dome defense system has saved many innocent lives, and I was proud to join my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to approve its continued funding this week," Democratic U.S. Rep. Angie Craig said in a statement.
During her first term, Omar apologized after House Democratic leadership condemned comments she had made, saying her "use of anti-Semitic tropes and prejudicial accusations about Israel's supporters is deeply offensive." Earlier this year, Omar tweeted that "we have seen unthinkable atrocities committed by the U.S., Hamas, Israel, Afghanistan, and the Taliban," in reference to an exchange involving the International Criminal Court during a committee hearing. She issued a clarification following bipartisan backlash.
