Ilhan Omar responds to critics with a measured op-ed citing James Mattis

Amid a firestorm surrounding her recent comments about U.S. policy toward Israel, which many on both sides of the political aisle called anti-Semitic, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) penned an op-ed in The Washington Post that was published on Sunday evening.

The overarching thesis of Omar's argument is that the U.S. must apply its values universally when dealing with questions of foreign policy. That is, the U.S. government should not condemn human rights abuses in Iran on the one hand, and look past similar infractions committed by Saudi Arabia because of political alliances on the other.

Most notably, though, Omar declared her support for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, which she notes has been bipartisan U.S. policy for decades. She wrote that Israel is the historical homeland of both Jews and Palestinians.

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"A balanced, inclusive approach to the conflict recognizes the shared desire for security and freedom of both peoples," she wrote. "I support a two-state solution, with internationally recognized borders, which allows for both Israelis and Palestinians to have their own sanctuaries and self-determination."

Omar's measured words come as she looks to quell critics who have accused her of harboring anti-Semitic and anti-Israel feelings. The freshman congresswoman even cited President Trump's former Defense Secretary James Mattis in the article, highlighting that he, too, has acknowledged that the current situation in the region is unsustainable.

Omar wrote that her critiques of Israel's government are meant to encourage a swifter move toward peace. Read the full op-ed at The Washington Post.