Harvard Law professor emeritus Alan Dershowitz on Monday called on Democrats to make sure controversial Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., is defeated in the next primary because she continues to antagonize Jewish lawmakers and Jewish Americans.
“The Democrats must marginalize her and distance her from the center of the party,” Dershowitz, who is Jewish, said on Fox News. “And I hope she’ll be primaried, and she should be beaten in a primary by people who support the United States and people who support American allies, rather than people who support American enemies.”
Omar has been accused of anti-Semitism after charging that the Jewish lobby has too much power over Congress. After House Democratic leaders demanded an apology, Omar apologized, but over the weekend continued to battle Jewish Democratic lawmakers.
Rep. Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., said Omar was wrong when she said Jewish lawmakers have an allegiance to a foreign country, Israel. But Omar replied, “Our democracy is built on debate, Congresswoman! I have not mischaracterized our relationship with Israel, I have questioned it and that has been clear from my end.”
Dershowitz said Omar is misreading Lowey’s support for a U.S. ally.
“For her to accuse Jewish members of Congress and non-Jewish members of Congress of dual loyalty because they support America’s allies … would you accuse somebody of dual loyalty if they supported England, if they supported France and other American allies?” Dershowitz asked.
Dershowitz said Omar’s status as a lawmaker in the House is a “bait and switch,” because she didn’t run on an anti-Israel platform, but is now focusing on that issue.
“She told her constituents when she ran that she would support America, and she is not,” he said. “She is supporting America’s enemies and undercutting American values.”
Dershowitz added that Omar is the one who should examine her own loyalties. He said she needs to ask herself, “My god, I’m accusing people of dual loyalties. Where are my loyalties? Are my loyalties to America, or are my loyalties to the Palestinian Authority, to Hamas, to Hezbolla?”
[Opinion: Ilhan Omar’s nonapology apology]
