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US House of Representatives votes to condemn antisemitism after Ilhan Omar's 'Israel loyalty' remarks

Resolution comes after the Minnesota congresswoman was criticised for appearing to question US citizens' loyalty

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The US House of Representatives passed a resolution condemning expressions of bigotry — including antisemitism — on Thursday, days after a congresswoman sparked controversy by questioning the loyalty of pro-Israeli Americans.

Minnesota representative Ilhan Omar was not mentioned by name in the resolution, which was tabled by her Democratic Party and also covered Islamophobia.

But the measures were a clear response to her remarks last weekend when she spoke of “the political influence in this country that says it is OK for people to push for allegiance to a foreign country” — referring to Israel.

Accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel than to their interests of their own nation is listed by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance as an example of contemporary antisemitism in public life.

407 members of the House of Representatives, including Ms Omar, supported the resolution, while 23 opposed it.

Opposition Republicans had seized on her remarks as a sign that her party has become fractured, but Democratic House speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters that she believed Ms Omar had not understood the “weight of her words”.

The seven-page resolution passed on Thursday evening says that “whether from the political right, center, or left, bigotry, discrimination, oppression, racism, and imputations of dual loyalty threaten American democracy and have no place in American political discourse”.

Ms Omar previously apologised for suggesting money was the reason why the United States was a strong supporter of Israel.

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