Democrats reportedly squabble over whether proposed anti-Semitism resolution is an unfair attack on Rep. Ilhan Omar

House Democrats did not do much to counter the perception that the party is currently in the midst of internal drama on Wednesday, when House members reportedly clashed in a closed-door meeting concerning an upcoming vote on a resolution to condemn anti-Semitism.

The resolution is seen by many as an indirect sanctioning of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), whose recent comments about the United States' relationship with Israel have stirred controversy both inside and outside of the party.

Several members defended Omar directly, saying they would not sign the resolution if it mentioned the congresswoman specifically. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) said that Omar was a "target" for Republicans who are trying to divide the party.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

The Washington Post reported that others argued that the real source of growing anti-Semitism and racism in the U.S. stems from the President Trump and the White House. But some members, like Rep. Ted Deutch (D-Fl.), who is Jewish, continued to push for the resolution, stating that Omar's words were hurtful. Omar suggested last week that supporters of Israel aren't loyal to the U.S. while criticizing the influence of lobbying efforts in U.S. politics.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) tried to quell the squabbling to no avail, per Mediaite. Later, the speaker blamed the media for exaggerating the bickering and said that the party is "very united."