Hadassah Statement On US Representative Ilhan Omar’s Dangerous Falsehoods

MEDIA CONTACT:
Joshua Silberberg
Plus PR
jsilberberg@pluspr.com

NEW YORK, NY – Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc. (HWZOA) National President Rhoda Smolow and Executive Director/CEO Janice Weinman released the following statement today following remarks made by Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN-05) about the United States, Israel, the Taliban and Hamas.

"Hadassah is deeply concerned by Representative Ilhan Omar’s amplification of a terrorist fiction that a moral equivalency exists between the United States and the Taliban, and Israel and Hamas in the use of force. It is shocking for a Member of Congress to suggest her country and one of America’s greatest allies are guilty of ‘atrocities’ and ‘crimes against humanity’ alongside terrorists who seek the death of innocent people.

"Representative Omar should further understand that a suggestion of equivalency between Israel and Hamas, or holding Israel to a higher standard than other nations, is at least the second major manifestation of antisemitism attributable to her. She should recognize that Israel is not a terrorist state and Hamas rules a terrorist enclave that puts innocent lives at risk.

"Hadassah urges Representative Omar to recognize that rising anti-Americanism and antisemitism around the world does not afford us the luxury of tolerating recklessness. Words matter – and it is incumbent upon each of us, but our elected officials most of all, to study the issues and learn the facts before speaking.

"Hadassah’s policy statement, De-Politicizing Antisemitism, makes our position clear: standing up to antisemitism cannot be a partisan issue. Not now. Not ever. No matter what. Hadassah calls upon the political leadership of the US House on both sides of the aisle to hold their colleagues accountable for speech and actions that demonize Israel and fuel prejudice against the Jewish people."

To read Hadassah’s policy statement, De-Politicizing Antisemitism, please click here.

About Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America:

Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, is the largest Jewish women’s organization in the United States. With nearly 300,000 members, donors and supporters, Hadassah brings women together to effect change on such critical issues as ensuring Israel’s security, combating antisemitism and promoting women’s health care. Through its Jerusalem-based hospital system, the Hadassah Medical Organization, Hadassah helps support exemplary care for more than 1 million people every year as well as world-renowned medical research. Hadassah’s hospitals serve without regard to race, religion or nationality and in 2005 earned a Nobel Peace Prize nomination for building bridges to peace through medicine. Hadassah also supports two youth villages that set at-risk youth in Israel on the path to a successful future. Visit www.hadassah.org or follow Hadassah on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads and X.