State Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minneapolis) is slated to be the keynote speaker at an upcoming fundraiser for the “victims of Israeli oppression.”
The dinner, hosted by an organization called “Dear Gaza, will be held on September 22 to help provide “urgent medical care” and financial relief to “Palestinians in the Israeli terrorized Gaza strip,” The Arab Daily News writes in its event description.
“These efforts help provide urgently needed medicines, equipment, wheelchairs, over-the-counter drugs and heath care supplies to the people in Gaza. Join us in saving lives at the Dear Gaza Dinner,” an Eventbrite post adds.
According to Alpha News, which was first to report the story, Dear Gaza raises up to an annual $30,000 for Palestinian causes at the dinner, while American Near East Refugee Aid (ANERA) donated an additional $1.3 million in medical supplies.
ANERA is “restricted to serving the Palestinian people” with its donations, and blames the Israeli blockade in the region for its poverty.
It’s unclear whether Omar will be compensated for her keynote address at the annual fundraiser, but the Minnesota Democrat is under tight scrutiny for accepting speaker fees from organizations that lobby at the state Legislature.
Omar is currently running to replace Keith Ellison in Minnesota’s Fifth Congressional District, which some have called the “anti-Israel seat.” As the first Somali-America legislator, Omar has not shied away from criticizing Israel, labeling it an “apartheid regime.”
“Israel has hypnotized the world,” she tweeted in 2014. “May Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel.”
When one Twitter follower attempted to draw attention to her comments, she called him a “hateful” and “sad man,” saying she will “pray to Allah you get the help you need.”
Omar, who is running on a campaign of “Medicare for all,” the abolition of ICE, and free college tuition, will face off against Republican Jennifer Zielinski in November’s election.
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Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Ilhan Omar” by www.ilhanomar.com.
