Bill Pascrell says Ilhan Omar must apologize

A Democratic congresswoman from Minnesota needs to apologize for anti-Israel comments she made on social media last day, says Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-Paterson), who also thinks GOP rhetoric about George Soros needs to be dialed back too.

Pascrell wants freshman Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota) to explain her statements on social media last night suggesting that Republican support for Israel is motivated by campaign contributions.

“Amplifying antisemitic canards is unacceptable. That any member of the US Congress would do so is an outrage. Rep. Omar’s comments channeled the cancerous bigotry that has fanned the flames of hate for centuries,” Pascrell said. “She should apologize and provide a full explanation.”

Pascrell says that last year “several of the leaders of the Republican Party themselves trafficked in antisemitic conspiracy theories aimed at George Soros and others.”

“Their comments were hurtful and fanned the same flames of hate. They should take this opportunity to also apologize for their actions,” Pascrell said.

Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Wyckoff) tweeted last night that Omar has avoided his request to meet with him to “discuss why anti-Semitic tropes like these are hurtful to so many Americans.”