Former Vice President Mike Pence recently engaged in a public disagreement with Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar concerning her position on Israel. Pence criticized Omar's stance, accusing her of antisemitism and sharing a video montage of her statements on the subject, concluding with the message "Stand with Israel." He asserted that Omar consistently prioritizes support for terrorists over America's key ally, Israel.
Pence reiterated his support for Israel and condemned antisemitism, particularly within the "radical Left." He also used this issue as a fundraising opportunity. Omar's office did not offer an immediate response to requests for comment.
The exchange stemmed from Omar's announcement that she would boycott Israeli President Isaac Herzog's address to a joint session of Congress. Omar stated her refusal to attend was due to Israel's policies towards her and Representative Rashida Tlaib. She criticized the U.S. government for extending the invitation to Herzog, particularly given the current political climate and tensions between Israel and the West Bank.
Omar further explained her boycott by highlighting the current Israeli government's right-wing stance and its declared intention to "crush" Palestinian statehood aspirations. She also pointed to Israeli cabinet members' criticism of President Biden and the ongoing judicial overhaul within Israel as further reasons for her disapproval.
Other representatives, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jamaal Bowman, and Cori Bush, also reportedly plan to boycott Herzog's address. Omar's removal from the House Foreign Affairs Committee earlier this year due to past controversial remarks about Israel adds another layer of complexity to the situation. While Democrats argued that the removal was racially motivated, Republicans cited her previous statements, some of which were deemed antisemitic. House Democrats had condemned those remarks four years prior.
