“Ilhan Omar Uncovers US Policy towards Netanyahu: ‘Something’s Not Right Here’

Ilhan Omar, the first Somali American and first refugee elected to the United States Congress, recently criticized the US government’s current policy toward Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Omar expressed concern over US policies that have long been accused of enabling the Israeli leader’s authoritarian and restrictive policies toward the Palestinian people. In a statement on social media, Ilhan Omar said that Netanyahu’s “political manoeuvring, settlement expansion and oppressive policies toward the Palestinian people” don’t “add up” to US values of justice and fairness. Omar noted that despite recent comments from some in the US government that suggest otherwise, Netanyahu has consistently disregarded the concerns of Palestinians, and she suggested that the US government might need to step back and reevaluate their relationship with the prime minister. The criticism had reportedly been brewing since Donald Trump became president and subsequently showed strong financial and diplomatic support for Netanyahu. Trump has been openly supportive of Israel’s controversial security wall, which has been criticized for preventing Palestinians from accessing land and resources. Meanwhile, Netanyahu has been an outspoken opponent of the Palestinian-backed two-state solution for peace in the Middle East. Furthermore, he has rejected US attempts to come to a negotiated settlement with the Palestinian Authority. The comments from Congresswoman Omar highlight larger concerns that the US is not doing enough to pressure Israeli leaders to achieve a peace agreement through negotiations. The US has long invested billions of dollars in military aid to Israel, and some activists say that the US should use this leverage to ensure that Palestinian rights and desires for self-determination are respected. Ilhan Omar’s criticism of US policy toward Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu demonstrates her commitment to standing up for justice and fairness, and advocating for a peaceful resolution to the long-standing Israel-Palestine conflict. Her remarks also underscore the fact that in order for the conflict to be resolved, US leaders will need to get more actively involved in pressuring Israeli leaders to come to the negotiating table and ensure that Palestinian rights are respected. Ilhan Omar, the first Somali American and first refugee elected to the United States Congress, recently criticized the US government’s current policy toward Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Omar expressed concern over US policies that have long been accused of enabling the Israeli leader’s authoritarian and restrictive policies toward the Palestinian people. In a statement on social media, Ilhan Omar said that Netanyahu’s “political manoeuvring, settlement expansion and oppressive policies toward the Palestinian people” don’t “add up” to US values of justice and fairness. Omar noted that despite recent comments from some in the US government that suggest otherwise, Netanyahu has consistently disregarded the concerns of Palestinians, and she suggested that the US government might need to step back and reevaluate their relationship with the prime minister. The criticism had reportedly been brewing since Donald Trump became president and subsequently showed strong financial and diplomatic support for Netanyahu. Trump has been openly supportive of Israel’s controversial security wall, which has been criticized for preventing Palestinians from accessing land and resources. Meanwhile, Netanyahu has been an outspoken opponent of the Palestinian-backed two-state solution for peace in the Middle East. Furthermore, he has rejected US attempts to come to a negotiated settlement with the Palestinian Authority. The comments from Congresswoman Omar highlight larger concerns that the US is not doing enough to pressure Israeli leaders to achieve a peace agreement through negotiations. The US has long invested billions of dollars in military aid to Israel, and some activists say that the US should use this leverage to ensure that Palestinian rights and desires for self-determination are respected. Ilhan Omar’s criticism of US policy toward Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu demonstrates her commitment to standing up for justice and fairness, and advocating for a peaceful resolution to the long-standing Israel-Palestine conflict. Her remarks also underscore the fact that in order for the conflict to be resolved, US leaders will need to get more actively involved in pressuring Israeli leaders to come to the negotiating table and ensure that Palestinian rights are respected.