Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) on Feb. 2, 2023. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

By Jacob Kornbluh February 2, 2023

The House voted Thursday along party lines to remove Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., from the House Foreign Affairs Committee over her criticism of Israel and past comments that were perceived as antisemitic. The resolution, introduced by Jewish Republican freshman Max Miller from Ohio, making good on House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s pledge to remove Omar from the prestigious panel, passed 218-211.  

The resolution cited Omar’s past comments critiquing the American Israel Public Affairs Committee that were perceived as antisemitic, and several statements she made lambasting Israel in 2021. 

At the same time, Omar added her name to a Democratic-led House resolution that recognizes Israel “as America’s legitimate and democratic ally” and that condemns antisemitism. The measure, introduced by Rep. Josh Gottheimer from New Jersey, with 30 Democrats listed as co-sponsors, “rejects hate, discrimination, and antisemitism in all forms, including antisemitism masquerading as anti-Israel sentiment” and “condemns perpetuation of antisemitic tropes, including claims of dual loyalty, control, and other conspiracy theories antithetical to American values.” 

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A number of Jewish representatives pushed back against the Republican move during a House floor debate, and progressive members of “The Squad” spoke in defense of Omar, earning applause from their colleagues. The Squad is a group of progressive House Democrats that initially consisted of Omar and three other women, New York’s Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan. Other representatives have since joined.

“I will continue to speak up because representation matters,” Omar said on the House floor, standing next to a large poster with a picture of her as a child. “I am here to stay and I am here to be a voice against harms around the world.”

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