Rep. Omar Denounced for 'Anti-Semitic Tropes' in Tweets

A pair of tweets that freshman Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., sent about the Israel lobby were denounced as "anti-Semitic" by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other congressional leaders on Monday, who called on her to apologize, NBC News reported.

Omar tweeted on Sunday, "It's all about the Benjamins baby" along with an emoji of musical notes, in response to another tweet, implying that U.S. politicians defending Isreal were driven by money. Asked by another user who she thinks is paying politicians to support Israel, she said it was the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC.

The pro-Israel nonprofit responded that it is "proud that we are engaged in the democratic process to strengthen the US-Israel relationship."

Omar, a Somalian refugee and proponent of the Israel-pressuring Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, quickly came under fire from members of Congress who viewed the comment about "Benjamins" as an anti-Semitic trope involving Jews and money.

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"Congresswoman Omar's use of anti-Semitic tropes and prejudicial accusations about Israel's supporters is deeply offensive," Pelosi and other Democratic leaders said in a statement that condemned the remarks while acknowledging that "legitimate criticism" of Israeli policies is protected speech.