Ilhan Omar slams Democrat colleagues behind new bill to fund Iron Dome and claims Israel is 'human rights abuser' as country's foreign minister says $1BN is vital to stop innocent civilians being killed by terrorist rockets
Daily Mail
September 22, 2021
Minnesota Democrat Rep. Ilhan Omar expressed outrage on Wednesday after House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer announced he'd bring a standalone bill allocating $1 billion toward Israel's Iron Dome to the House floor this week.
It was removed yesterday from a funding bill aimed at averting a government shutdown and suspending the US debt ceiling after a group of progressive Democrats threatened to tank the crucial legislation if it contained the funds.
Omar made a scathing statement appearing to accuse Israel of abusing human rights.
'We sold $175 billion in weapons last year—more than anyone in the world—to some of the worst human right abusers in the world,' Omar wrote on Twitter.
'Here’s an idea: don’t sell arms to anyone who violates human rights.'
Hoyer spoke on the House floor two hours after crisis talks with Israeli foreign minister Yair Lapid.
Iron Dome saved lives and property, and held Israel secure,' Hoyer told the House chamber.
He said the legislation already has the support of top Democrats in government - including President Joe Biden.
'The president wants this bill passed, Mr. Schumer wants this bill passed, the speaker wants this bill passed,' Hoyer said. 'Scores of others on both sides of the aisle want to make sure that Israel is secure.'
Lapid said the Maryland Democrat told him the measure was pulled on Tuesday because of a 'technical postponement' resulting from the debate in Congress over the US budget deficit.
'I thanked Majority Leader Hoyer for his commitment and emphasized to him the need to approve the request as soon as possible to ensure Israel's security needs,' Lapid wrote in Hebrew on Twitter.
Omar, meanwhile, has been blasted for comments that appear anti-Semitic in the past - like when she compared Israel to the Taliban in June.
'We have seen unthinkable atrocities committed by the US, Hamas, Israel, Afghanistan, and the Taliban,' Omar tweeted in June.
Her words were used against her in an attack ad by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in August.
'Stand WITH America. Stand AGAINST terrorists,' reads an anti-Omar American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) ad.
In a June CNN interview, host Jake Tapper asked her if she understood why the language she's used about Israel was perceived to be anti-Semitic by Jews.
'I have welcomed any time my colleagues have asked to have a conversation, to learn from them, for them to learn from me,' Omar responded. 'I think it's really important for these members to realize that they haven't been partners in justice,' she added.
Hoyer told lawmakers yesterday that he's bringing the bill up under suspension, which means it will circumvent the usual processes of committee markups. Instead it'll be brought to the floor under limited debate and can pass the House with a two-thirds majority.
Iron Dome fires missile to intercept Hamas rocket
Israel's Iron Dome has been operational since 2011 and is one of the most sophisticated defense systems in the world. It was created by Israeli military firms with additional support from the US.
The all-weather system uses radar technology to detect incoming airborne threats and destroy them before they can cause damage.
The radar then activates a control center that calculates a rocket's flight path. If it's found to be dangerous, interceptor missiles are launched to detonate the incoming weapon.
Each Iron Dome 'battery' comprised of radar, control center and missiles costs roughly $100 million.
Missiles fired from the Iron Dome cost between $50,000 and $80,000, according to estimates from the Jerusalem Post.
Israel
uses Iron Dome systems to defend on land as well as at sea, where it
can be fixed to Navy ships to guard offshore property.
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