AWC Denounces AIPAC; Stands with Tlaib, McCollum & Omar

Issued on February 13, 2020

AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) recently launched four ads condemning three legislators sympathetic to Palestine as “more sinister” than ISIS, targeting Reps. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, and Betty McCollum and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota. The Anti-War Committee condemns AIPAC’s attacks on these legislators and stand with the rest of the international community in condemning Israel’s use of terrorism, blockades, illegal settlements, and detainment of children.

Rep. Betty McCollum is drawing fire from AIPAC for introducing a bill that would prohibit the use of U.S military funding for the detention of Palestinian children in military jails. Reps. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib are once again being targeted by AIPAC for supporting justice in Palestine, being outspoken critics of Israeli policies and criticizing AIPAC’s corrupting influence in Washington. Like Omar and Tlaib, McCollum has refused to back down in the face of these attacks.

 Rep. McCullom said, “The decision by AIPAC to use my image in paid Facebook ads weaponizing anti-Semitism to incite followers by attacking me, my colleagues, and my work promoting human rights for Palestinian children detained in Israeli military prisons is hate speech.”

Conflating criticism of Israel’s genocidal actions with anti-Semitism is a desperate tactic that is being used because Israel relies on the military, economic, and political support of the U.S. government to carry out its policies. Tying the actions of the genocidal Israeli regime to Judaism is the true anti-Semitism, and the Anti-War Committee denounces this tactic designed to shut down debate and criticism.

 AIPAC and Israel fear that a grassroots movement against imperialism threatens the ability of Israel to continue to wage an illegal and abhorrent campaign to strip Palestinians of their rights and their land. The Anti-War Committee continues to proudly back Reps. Tlaib, McCollum, and Omar in their fight for justice for Palestinians.

#StopAIPACsHate