Netanyahu hits back at Omar: Support for Israel is about shared values, not ‘the Benjamins’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday pushed back against comments made by Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), who had drawn bipartisan criticism after saying that politicians’ support for Israel was “all about the Benjamins.”

“From this Benjamin, it’s not about the Benjamins,” Netanyahu said in a speech delivered through a video call at a conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). “The reason … is not because they want our money. It’s because they share our values.” 

{mosads}”It’s because America and Israel share a love of freedom and democracy. It’s because we cherish individual rights and the rule of law,” he added in a speech laden with praise for President Trump. “We don’t judge people by the color of their skin, their religion or their sexual orientation.”

Omar responded to Netanyahu’s remarks on Tuesday, tweeting about allegations of corruption against the prime minister that have dogged him amid his bid for reelection next month.

This from a man facing indictments for bribery and other crimes in three separate public corruption affairs.

Next! https://t.co/BX6qLpISKx

— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) March 26, 2019

Multiple reports have indicated Netanyahu is going to be indicted on fraud and bribery charges connected to alleged dealings with an Israeli news site. 

Omar stoked controversy with her February remarks, which critics said invoked anti-Semitic tropes. She later apologized for the tweet, saying she meant to criticize the influence of the Israel lobby. She raised more controversy later when she said that such groups push for “allegiance” to a foreign country, referencing AIPAC. Critics said her remark invoked a harmful “dual loyalty” claim against American Jews.