Michael Hernandez
27 March 2019•Update: 28 March 2019
WASHINGTON
U.S. congresswoman Rashida Tlaib said a note accusing fellow freshman lawmaker Ilhan Omar of "Jew hatred" was left on the door of her congressional office.
Tlaib is one of the two first Muslim women elected to Congress, alongside Omar who has twice been accused of making anti-Semitic remarks after she began her term in January.
Tlaib posted a picture on Twitter that appeared to depict the note Tuesday.
"Rep Omar, Stop your disgusting Jew hatred. Your sign says 'Justice for all.' That means Jews too. Your jihad against the Jews will fail. Am Yisrael Chai," the small blue stick-it note read, concluding with a Hebrew phrase that roughly translates to "the nation of Israel is alive."
It is unclear why the note addressed to Omar was left on Tlaib's door, as well as who left the message.
Tlaib responded to its allegations on Twitter, insisting it was replete with "hateful rhetoric & bullying."
"Stop the fear mongering & blantant [sic] lies. Come here w/ the value that all beings deserve human rights, including Palestinians," she said. Omar "& I fight for equality & justice for all. There's nothing antisemitic about that!"
Tlaib and Omar were elected to Congress during the 2018 midterm elections, and have been part and parcel of the Democratic caucus' growing progressive wing, alongside hallmark congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Omar, in particular, has attracted controversy for a series of comments denounced by many, including members of her party, as anti-Semitic.
Omar suggested in February that support for Israel in Congress is tied to the financial benefits that accompanies it, remarks she apologized for before she denounced "political influence in this country that says it is okay to push for allegiance to a foreign country," referring to Israel.
Unlike her first set of remarks, Omar has doubled down on her loyalty claim with some support from leading members of her party, including top contenders for the 2020 presidential nomination.
A resolution introduced by the House's Democratic leadership initially intended as a rebuke of Omar was later widened to condemn multiple forms of hatred after a poster displayed in the West Virginia Capitol tied Omar to the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks on the U.S.
