Rep. Ilhan Omar astonishingly declined to comment on the tragic shooting at the Capital Jewish Museum that resulted in the deaths of two Israeli Embassy employees.
When questioned about the incident, the pro-Palestinian congresswoman dismissed the inquiry despite the widespread outrage over the anti-Semitic killings, which included anger from fellow pro-Palestinian congressional members.
A reporter inquired on Thursday morning outside the Capitol, ‘Congresswoman Omar, can I get your reaction to the shooting that happened in DC last night?’
The progressive Minnesota representative responded nonchalantly as she was walking: ‘I’m going to go for now.’
She then briskly walked away from the cameras and reporters.
A few hours later, and after mounting outrage over her lack of condemnation, Omar was forced to release a statement on X on the horrific murders.
‘I am appalled by the deadly shooting at the Capital Jewish Museum last night,’ she wrote.
‘Holding the victims, their families, and loved ones in my thoughts and prayers. Violence should have no place in our country,’ Omar added.
Overnight, a gunman targeted a Young Diplomat event in Washington, D.C. He shot and killed Israeli Embassy staffer Yaron Lischinsky and his girlfriend Sarah Milgrim, who worked in the public diplomacy department at the embassy.
While it took Omar hours address the devastating attack, fellow progressive squad members Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ayanna Pressley were swift to call out the act of terrorism.
‘Absolutely nothing justifies the murder of innocents,’ Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X.
‘I am devastated by the killing of two people outside an AJC Global event here in Washington. Our prayers are with the victims, families, and loved ones of all impacted.’
‘As we await more details, we must be clear that hatred has no home here. Antisemitism is a threat to all we hold dear as a society. It must be confronted and rooted out everywhere,’ the New York Democrat concluded.
Meanwhile, Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) wrote on X early Thursday morning: ‘The murder of two Israeli embassy staff outside an AJC Global event in DC is unconscionable and unacceptable.’
‘Our freedoms and our destinies are truly tied. I’m praying for the victims, their loved ones, and everyone impacted,’ she added.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib, the only lawmaker of Palestinian descent, did not weigh-in on the shooting as of early Thursday afternoon.
The shooting suspect identified as 30-year-old Elias Rodriguez was taken into custody and questioned overnight, the FBI said.
He was caught on camera repeatedly shouting ‘Free Palestine’ as he was arrested.
Omar, a Somali refugee, is one of the most outspoken on Capitol Hill in support of Palestinians amid the ingoing war with Israel.
Since getting into office, Omar has faced widespread criticism for sharing anti-Israel sentiments and pushing tropes insulting to Jewish people.
Back in 2019, Omar was forced to apologize for her a string of comments seen as insulting, insensitive and downright anti-Semitic.
In a tweet at the time, the then-freshman congresswoman linked support for Israel to financial contributions by writing: ‘It’s all about the Benjamins.’
She was accused of using the Puff Daddy song line to call up a harmful stereotype of Jewish Americans.
After a phone call with Democratic leadership, Omar apologized for using old anti-Semitic tropes about Jews and money.
‘Anti-Semitism is real and I am grateful for Jewish allies and colleagues who are educating me on the painful history of anti-Semitic tropes,’ Omar said in a statement at the time.
‘My intention is never to offend my constituents or Jewish Americans as a whole,’ she added. ‘We have to always be willing to step back and think through criticism, just as I expect people to hear me when others attack me for my identity. This is why I unequivocally apologize.’
