Minnesota Rep. Betty McCollum has put out a statement that refers to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) as a “hate group.” McCollum’s comments come just days after AIPAC pulled and apologized for Facebook ads that targeted pro-Palestine lawmakers and implied they were worse than the terrorist group ISIS.
My statement responding to the vicious and hateful paid Facebook ads from AIPAC intended to demonize my work in support of human rights for Palestinian children. #HR2407 #StopAIPACsHate https://t.co/ViH1rLilm1
— BettyMcCollum04 (@BettyMcCollum04) February 12, 2020
AIPAC ran a series of Facebook ads that referenced “radicals in the Democratic party.” The text of the ad was accompanied by a collage featuring Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) and Betty McCollum (D-MN). “It’s critical that we protect our Israeli allies especially as they face threats from Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah ISIS and — maybe more sinister — right here in the U.S. Congress,” one of the ads read.
McCollum has become a target of the pro-Israel organization as a result of introducing H.R.2407, an historic piece of legislation that aims to prohibit U.S. taxpayer money from being used to detain Palestinian children in Israel.“Israel’s system of military juvenile detention is state-sponsored child abuse designed to intimidate and terrorize Palestinian children and their families,” said McCollum after introducing the bill, “It must be condemned, but it is equally outrageous that U.S. tax dollars in the form of military aid to Israel are permitted to sustain what is clearly a gross human rights violation against children.” H.R. 2407 currently has 23 cosponsors.
“We offer our unequivocal apology to the overwhelming majority of Democrats in Congress who are rightfully offended by the inaccurate assertion that the poorly worded, inflammatory advertisement implied,” AIPAC later said in an apology on Twitter.
AIPAC statement: https://t.co/4lq6zGCcgj pic.twitter.com/8UzGsfZgHR
— AIPAC (@AIPAC) February 8, 2020
“AIPAC claims to be a bipartisan organization, but its use of hate speech actually makes it a hate group,” reads McCollum’s statement, “By weaponizing anti-Semitism and hate to silence debate, AIPAC is taunting Democrats and mocking our core values. I hope Democrats understand what is at stake and take a stand because working to advance peace, human rights, and justice is not sinister – it is righteous.”
A coalition of progressive organizations recently launched a campaign encouraging Democratic presidential candidates to skip AIPAC’s annual policy conference next month.
To be brief:
Major kudos to Minnesota Rep. Betty McCollum!! She is a great and courageous American humanitarian who comprehends the horrors inflicted on the indigenous defenselss Palestinians for nearly 72 years by Zionists of foreign origin paid for in large measure by U.S. taxpayers (about $15 million per day.) The fanatical, pro-“Israel,” anti-Palestinian lobby is scared to death of her. She is also tilling the ground for the future. Zionism, a 19th century racist, colonialist settler ideology, is headed for history’s dumpster and more and more American youth, including increasing numbers of enlightened Jews, are helping to bring it about.
Before Russia, there was Israel, interfering in our country, getting their oligarchs and wealthy diaspora to contribute millions of dollars to political campaigns, controlling what the media says, getting the media, and their vicious trolls, to attack politicians like Betty McCollum who criticize Israel and it’s crimes, funding their opponents, and generally meddling in our politics, supporting those who will benefit Israel first. Politicians and Presidents invited them, and allowed them to stay and operate openly.
Israel has made us fashion our foreign policies based on their demands, in fact many have the impression they write it for us, made us a pariah state when we were the only nation to not vote to condemn their crimes against unarmed civilians, we veto UN resolutions against them, and they receive the most aid from us.
How about dealing with that first?
Foreign lobbies operating so boldly in the US should be dismantled and banned, they have done too much of damage to our nation, and naming an entity like this with an “A” in front, does not necessary mean it’s interests are for America first. That is hogwash.
Rep. McCollum is absolutely right, they are hate groups, they threaten, twist arms, and pour in millions of dollars, to oppose anyone who stands up to them, for all they want are obedient Americans who will bow their heads in a servile manner, and do their bidding. No wonder other nations are trying hard to get in on the game too, our politicians are that cheap.
(Pro-)Zionist groups like AIPAC and ADL are hate groups: They passionately hate justice, accountability and equality – perhaps only but definitely especially when they apply to I-P.
Rarely has a spade been so expertly and publicly and honestly called a “spade”. Kudos Rep McCollum (and thanks to the other 23 sponsors of the draft legislation).
Isn’t it time to put an end to this endless hatred of Palestinians? An end to making their lives miserable? And end to smearing those people standing up for Palestinians? israel’s behaviour is shameful.