Dem Rep: Boycotting Israel Is Anti-Semitic, Won’t Condemn Omar, Tlaib For Supporting It

Illinois Rep. Brad Schneider said boycotting Israel is anti-Semitic on CNN Tuesday, but the Democrat would not condemn Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota or Rashida Tlaib of Michigan for supporting divestment of the Jewish state.

Schneider agreed “100%” with a clip of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi saying the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel was bigoted and anti-Semitic. However, he fumbled for an explanation when journalist Dana Bash asked him if he would condemn his Democratic colleagues Omar and Tlaib for supporting such measures.

He said some people who support the BDS movement “may not understand the intent.” He told Bash he has spoken to Tlaib about the anti-Israel rhetoric, but she has “her own beliefs and experience.”

“I’m not going to subscribe [anti-Semitism] to the supporters, but the movement itself — its intent, its goals — are anti-Semitic in intent,” he said. Schneider also spoke about a resolution that will take place Tuesday night to condemn BDS, but 25% of the Democratic house will not be supporting the measure, according to his statements.

Omar received backlash after she made comments saying politicians only support Israel in the interest of money. She has since refused to retract her statements.

Israel has been an ally to the U.S. President Donald Trump solidified this relationship when he recognized Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish state in December 2017.