Minnesota lawmakers respond to Rep. Omar tweet many call anti-Semitic

(FOX 9) - State and national leaders are responding to Rep. Ilhan Omar’s social media post about Israeli influence, including Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.

During a listening session Monday, Ellison - one of Omar’s most public supporters - said she has a responsibility to be sensitive.

“I think the right thing to do is to apologize, engage, to listen and I’m sure she’s going to do all of that,” Ellison said.

Sen. Ron Latz also spoke out in response to the tweet, in which she suggested that Jewish money fuels the backing for Israel in the U.S. and abroad via AIPAC, one of the most influential lobbying groups in Washington, D.C.

“My first reaction was ‘oh, no, not again,” he said.

This is the latest in a series remarks some deem as “anti-Semitic tropes” Omar has peppered across her Twitter account since 2012 when Omar tweeted “Israel has hypnotized the world. May Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel.”

On Monday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called on Omar to apologize. Through Twitter, Omar wrote, “I’m grateful for Jewish allies and colleagues who are educating me on the painful history of anti-semitic tropes. My intention is never to offend my constituents or Jewish Americans as a whole.” Later she added, “This is why I unequivocally apologize.”

But, Sen. Latz condemned the remarks and called Omar’s apology insufficient.

“At some point apologies aren’t any good anymore or, ‘my bad’ or ‘my misunderstanding’ doesn’t cut it anymore,” he said. “There are some people who will see it as opening the door, giving the green light to violence against jews. If it were one incident we accept her apology, let’s move on. That’s one thing. But, when you’ve got a pattern of behavior, that’s not good enough…we need the behavior to change." 

Omar is also a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, and Sen. Latz worries with these remarks she’s using that international megaphone to exacerbate tensions.

Meanwhile, in response to Omar, Rabbi Michael Latz tweeted, “I accept your apology and hope we can work together to address hatred in every form.”

But, some on Twitter argued no apology was owed.

As groups like Jewish Community Action write, “it’s not anti-semitic to point out that money influences our politics – that’s just a fact. It’s also true the myth of ‘Jewish money’ has been used for centuries as a weapon against the Jewish community.”

FOX 9 reached out to Omar’s office, but has not received a response.