The Republican-led US House of Representatives has removed Democrat Ilhan Omar from a prominent committee due to her prior anti-Israel remarks.

Following a contentious, loud debate, the action was a dramatic reaction to Democrats’ 2021 removal of two Republicans from committee assignments.

The Republicans succeeded in persuading a sharply divided House that voted 218-211 along party lines to remove Ms. Omar from the Foreign Affairs Committee, citing comments she made in 2019 for which she later apologized.

Only one Republican cast a “present” ballot.

Despite the reluctance of some GOP lawmakers, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was successful in uniting Republicans against the Muslim woman who was born in Somalia in the new Congress.

Before the Democrats ousted hard-right Republicans Paul Gosar of Arizona and Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, removals from House committees were practically unheard of.

On the house floor, Ms. Omar defended herself by saying, “When you push power, power pushes back.” She asked if anyone was shocked that she was being singled out.

During the vote, she was embraced and hugged by her Democratic colleagues.

In her closing remarks, Ms. Omar stated, “My leadership will be celebrated worldwide, and my voice will get louder and stronger.”

Omar’s six prior remarks that “under the totality of the circumstances, disqualify her from serving on the Committee of Foreign Affairs” were the focus of Republican attention, according to Representative Michael Guest of Mississippi, who will take over as chairman the House Ethics Committee.

“All members, both Republicans and Democrats alike, who seek to serve on Foreign Affairs, should be held to the highest standard of conduct, due to the international sensitivity and national security concerns under the jurisdiction of this committee,” Mr. Guest stated.

Representative Max Miller, a former Trump administration official, introduced the resolution, which stated: “Omar’s remarks have brought dishonor to the House of Representatives.”

Democrats say the removal was motivated by “political revenge.”
According to New York Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, Ms. Omar occasionally “made mistakes” and employed anti-Semitic cliches that were denounced by House Democrats four years prior.

But that wasn’t the point of Thursday’s local time vote, he added.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, and Rashida Tlaib attend a press conference.
“It’s not about accountability, it’s about political revenge,” Mr. Jeffries stated.

“Disgusting legacies after 9/11” is how Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez went on to describe the GOP’s action.

She claimed that “targeting and racism against Muslim-Americans throughout the United States of America” was a legacy of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

“And this is an extension of that legacy,” she continued.

“This is about targeting women of colour.”
Following the Democratic removals of Greene and Gosar, Mr. McCarthy denied that the Republican attempt to remove Ms. Omar was a tit-for-tat.

In late 2021, he had issued a warning that if Republicans regained the House majority, such a reaction might be anticipated.

“This is nothing like the last Congress,” he declared Thursday.

He pointed out that after her anti-Israel remarks, Ms. Omar could continue to serve on other panels but not the Foreign Affairs Committee.