The event commemorated Yom Hazikaron, an Israeli holiday that honors fallen soldiers and victims of terrorist attacks.
Omar, known for her previous controversial statements targeting Israel, was scheduled to speak at the event, but why she was removed is unclear. In January, Omar claimed she was unaware of anti-Semitic "tropes about Jews and money." Omar's office did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment on the removal or its nature.
April 19, 2023
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who has been critical of Omar, was also listed as a speaker, but he will now provide video remarks instead of speaking at the event. Massachusetts Democrat Rep. Jim McGovern, USCIRF Chair Nury Turkel, and Commissioner Frank Wolf are also opening speakers at the event.
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Omar's controversial statements regarding Israel intensified during the recent conflict between Israeli forces and the Iranian-backed terror group Hamas. Omar is a staunch critic of Israel and accused the country of engaging in "terrorism" during the recent conflict.
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The conflict began after clashes between Israeli police and Palestinians in Jerusalem over potential evictions by the Israeli government. Thousands of rockets flew indiscriminately into Tel Aviv and Jerusalem from Hamas in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and Israeli forces retaliated with their own targeted air strikes. The fighting ended with a ceasefire, but Omar said that the U.S. was "underwriting crimes against humanity" by supporting Israel and that there needed to be "accountability for every war crime committed."
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In 2019, during her first term in office, Omar faced backlash for a since-deleted tweet from 2012, in which she wrote, "Israel has hypnotized the world, may Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel." Omar regretted the tweet and defended her comments while speaking to comedian Trevor Noah on "The Daily Show."
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Omar also received intense backlash when she tweeted that the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) was paying American politicians to support Israel. She later apologized for the tweet and reaffirmed the problematic role of lobbyists in politics.
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Omar's removal from the House Foreign Affairs Committee earlier this year adds to the controversy surrounding her views on Israel. Despite her removal from the committee and the recent USCIRF event, Omar remains a vocal critic of Israel and continues to speak out against its policies.