Omar Opposes Iran Sanctions, Defends Anti-Israel BDS: 'They’re Very Different'
Congresswoman blasts the president's decision on additional sanctions
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Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., was asked to explain her support for the anti-Israel Boycott, Divest, and Sanction (BDS) movement while opposing U.S. sanctions on Iran, claiming they are "very different."
President Donald Trump, on Wednesday, announced in his address that his administration would be launching additional sanctions against Iran following the Iranian attack on U.S. military bases in Iraq.
The president also extended an olive branch to encourage peace talks between the two nations.
But Omar blasted Trump's decision:
"This makes no sense. Sanctions are economic warfare," the congresswoman reacted on Twitter.
"They have already caused medical shortages and countless deaths in Iran."
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She added:
"You cannot claim to want de-escalation and then announce new sanctions with no clear goal. This is not a measured response!"
The Democratic 'squad' member faced backlash on her support of the progressive economic movement, which is designed to damage Israel over its settlements in the disputed territory with the Palestinians.
Townhall senior writer Julios Rosas confronted Omar outside Capitol Hill, asking her to respond to her critics.
"The BDS movement is a movement that is driven by the people," Omar told Rosas.
"The sanctions on Iran are sanctions that are being placed to create maximum pressure by a government. That is very different."
But Omar's response will not likely satisfy her critics, who have noted her hypocritical views on social media.
“Ilhan Omar views sanctions on terror regimes to be 'economic warfare' but supports them when aimed at the world’s only Jewish state. Must just be a coincidence,” one Twitter user said in response to Omar's tweet.
This makes no sense. Sanctions are economic warfare.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) January 8, 2020
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
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
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“Ilhan Omar has now decried sanctions on the Castros in Cuba, Maduro in Venezuela, and the Ayatollah in Iran,” Michael Abrams, a GOP communications director, wrote.
“At the same time, she's the leading voice in Congress on sanctioning the Jewish people in the world’s only Jewish state. Wonder why.”
In July last year, Omar proposed a resolution supporting the right to boycott Israel as she compared the Jewish state to boycotts of Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union.
The Democrat's resolution looked to push back against U.S. laws banning the boycott of Israel while supporting the right of Americans to organize boycotts of foreign countries.
Though the resolution does not name Israel or the pro-Palestinian Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, she states that the resolution concerns the Jewish state.
On Thursday, Omar continued to spark controversy after she was caught on video laughing as her colleague, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), discussed US troops killed in Iraq.
Jackson Lee was discussing American casualties overseas during a press conference on Wednesday.
At the same time, other Democrats - including Omar and her fellow "Squad" member Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) - stood behind listening.
Rep. Omar could be seen standing behind Lee as she spoke, laughing while talking to her Democrat colleagues.
