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Will US Rep. Ilhan Omar Be the Next Anti-Israel ‘Squad’ Member to Lose Re-Election?
US Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) speaks at a press conference with activists calling for a ceasefire in Gaza in front of the Capitol in Washington, DC, Dec. 14, 2023. Photo: Annabelle Gordon / CNP/Sipa USA via Reuters Connect
US Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), one of the fiercest critics of Israel in Congress, is running to defend her seat in a Democratic Party primary on Tuesday after two high-profile primary losses of fellow progressive House members with similar views on the Jewish state.
Omar, a member of the so-called “Squad” of anti-Israel, far-left lawmakers in the US House of Representatives — is facing off against challenger Don Samuels in a closely watched rematch of their race last election cycle.
In 2022, Omar narrowly beat Samuels in the Democratic primary by less than 2,500 votes in a relatively low-turnout election.
Samuels has labeled Omar as divisive and focused his campaign on working with people who have different views and paying particular attention to domestic issues. “The only people who benefit from polarizing and dividing America are the politicians who get famous for doing so. While families are divided over politics and hope for the future declines, they get book deals and donations. It must end,” he wrote on Sunday on X/Twitter.
Samuels has also criticized Omar’s comments on the Israel-Hamas war, which began after the Hamas terrorist organization killed 1,200 people and took 250 hostages during an onslaught across southern Israel on Oct. 7.
Despite the close call in 2022, experts believe Omar is likely to keep her seat. The Cook Political Report said Omar is “in a strong position to fend off another primary challenge.”
Meanwhile, University of Minnesota political science professor and researcher Larry Jacobs told local Minnesota outlet Fox 9 that he expects the incumbent to win by more than five points. The prediction is based on lopsided fundraising numbers — Omar has raised three times as much as Samuels — and a lack of enthusiasm on the part of the challenger’s supporters.
Recent polling from Lake Research Partners on behalf of Omar’s campaign and Victoria Research & Consulting on behalf of Samuels’ campaign found the incumbent had a 27 and 19 percentage point lead, respectively.
However, the race comes after two high-profile primary losses of fellow “Squad” members Reps. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) and Cori Bush (D-MO).
In late June, Bowman lost by more than 17 points in the Democratic primary in a race in which he made opposition to Israel and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) central issues. AIPAC, a prominent pro-Israel lobbying group in the US, had raised a significant amount of money for Bowman’s opponent.
Then last week, Bush lost by about 5.5 points to a Democratic challenger as well. AIPAC was similarly involved in that race, spending $8 million to help oust Bush — who has been one of the more vocal anti-Israel voices in Congress, particularly since Oct. 7.
Bush was defiant in a speech after her loss: “As much as I love my job, all they did was radicalize me — and so now they need to be afraid.”
“Let me say this, AIPAC: I’m coming to tear your kingdom down,” Bush continued. “They about to see this other Cori.”
AIPAC has not been particularly involved in Omar’s race, nor have other outside organizations. However, according to The Intercept, wealthy pro-Israel donors have made a last-ditch effort to give money to Samuels in a bid to vote out Omar.
In response, Omar wrote on X/Twitter on Sunday: “It is shameful that my opponent is actively courting Republican votes and desperately seeking funding from AIPAC.”
“MN05 deserves someone who will champion their values, not seek support from vile MAGA Republicans like Laura Loomer and Royce White,” she concluded.
The Minnesota district leans heavily Democratic, so whoever wins the primary is likely also to win the general election to serve in Congress in November.
The post Will US Rep. Ilhan Omar Be the Next Anti-Israel ‘Squad’ Member to Lose Re-Election? first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Brooklyn Nets Select Israeli Basketball Players Ben Saraf, Danny Wolf in NBA Draft
The opening tip between the Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards, at Barclays Center, in Brooklyn, New York, Dec. 13, 2020. Photo: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect
In a landmark night for Israeli basketball, Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf were selected in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft by the Brooklyn Nets, marking the first time two Israeli players have been drafted in the same year.
Saraf, a 19-year-old guard known for his explosive athleticism and creative playmaking, was taken with the 26th pick. A standout with Maccabi Rishon LeZion and a rising star on Israel’s youth national teams, Saraf gained international attention with his electrifying scoring and commanding court presence.
With the 27th pick, the Nets selected 7-foot center Danny Wolf out of the University of Michigan. Wolf, who holds dual US-Israeli citizenship and represented Israel at the U-20 level, brings a versatile skill set, including sharp passing, perimeter shooting, and a strong feel for the game. After his name was called, Wolf grew emotional in an on-air interview, crediting his family for helping him reach the moment.
“I have the two greatest brothers in the world; I have an unbelievable sister who I love,” Wolf said. “They all helped me get to where I am today, and they’re going to help me get to where I am going to go in this league.”
The historic double-pick adds to the growing wave of Israeli presence on the NBA stage, led by Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija, who just completed a breakout 2024–25 season. After being traded to Portland last summer, Avdija thrived as a starter, averaging 16.9 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists. In March alone, he posted 23.4 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game, including two triple-doubles.
“I don’t think I’ve played like this before … I knew I had it in me. But I’m not really thinking about it. I’m just playing. I’m just free,” Avdija told reporters in March
With Saraf and Wolf joining Avdija, Israel’s basketball pipeline has reached unprecedented visibility. Israeli President Isaac Herzog called the moment “a national celebration for sports and youth,” and Israeli sports commentators widely hailed the night as “historic.”
Both Saraf and Wolf are expected to suit up for the Nets’ Summer League team in July. As the two rookies begin their NBA journey, they join a growing generation of Israeli athletes proving that their game belongs on basketball’s biggest stage.
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Iran Denies Any Meeting With US Next Week, Foreign Minister Says
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi attends a press conference following a meeting with Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, Russia, April 18, 2025. Photo: Tatyana Makeyeva/Pool via REUTERS
Iran currently has no plan to meet with the United States, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Thursday in an interview on state TV, contradicting US President Donald Trump’s statement that Washington planned to have talks with Iran next week.
The Iranian foreign minister said Tehran was assessing whether talks with the US were in its interest, following five previous rounds of negotiations that were cut short by Israel and the US attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities.
The US and Israel said the strikes were meant to curb Iran’s ability to create nuclear weapons, while Iran says its nuclear program is solely geared toward civilian use.
Araqchi said the damages to nuclear sites “were not little” and that relevant authorities were figuring out the new realities of Iran’s nuclear program, which he said would inform Iran’s future diplomatic stance.
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Ireland Becomes First European Nation to Advance Ban on Trade With Israeli Settlements
A pro-Hamas demonstration in Ireland led by nationalist party Sinn Fein. Photo: Reuters/Clodagh Kilcoyne
Ireland has become the first European nation to push forward legislation banning trade with Israeli communities in the West Bank and East Jerusalem — an effort officials say is meant “to address the horrifying situation” in the Gaza Strip.
On Wednesday, Irish Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Simon Harris announced that the legislation has already been approved by the government and will now move to the parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade for pre-legislative scrutiny.
“Ireland is speaking up and speaking out against the genocidal activity in Gaza,” Harris said during a press conference.
The Irish diplomat also told reporters he hopes the “real benefit” of the legislation will be to encourage other countries to follow suit, “because it is important that every country uses every lever at its disposal.”
Today Ireland becomes the first country in Europe to bring forward legislation to ban trade with the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Ireland is speaking up and speaking out against the genocidal activity in Gaza.
Every country must pull every lever at its disposal. pic.twitter.com/Z4RTjqntEY— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) June 24, 2025
Joining a growing number of EU member states aiming to curb Israel’s defensive campaign against the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, Ireland’s decision comes after a 2024 advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) declared Israel’s presence in the West Bank and East Jerusalem illegal.
The ICJ ruled that third countries must avoid trade or investment that supports “the illegal situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”
Once implemented, the law will criminalize the importation of goods from Israeli settlements into Ireland, empowering customs officials to inspect, seize, and confiscate any such shipments.
“The situation in Palestine remains a matter of deep public concern,” Harris said. “I have made it consistently clear that this government will use all levers at its disposal to address the horrifying situation on the ground and to contribute to long-term efforts to achieve a sustainable peace on the basis of the two-state solution.”
“Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory are illegal and threaten the viability of the two-state solution,” the Irish diplomat continued. “This is the longstanding position of the European Union and our international partners. Furthermore, this is the clear position under international law.”
Harris also urged the EU to comply with the ICJ’s ruling by taking a more decisive and “adequate response” regarding imports from Israeli settlements.
“This is an issue that I will continue to press at EU level, and I reiterated my call for concrete proposals from the European Commission at the Foreign Affairs Council this week,” he said.
Last week, Ireland and eight other EU member states — Finland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden — called on the European Commission to draft proposals for how EU countries can halt trade and imports with Israeli settlements, in line with obligations set out by the ICJ.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar condemned the latest move by European countries, calling it “shameful” and a misguided attempt to undermine Israel while it faces “existential” threats from Iran and its proxies, including Hamas.
“It is regrettable that even when Israel is fighting an existential threat which is in Europe’s vital interest — there are those who can’t resist their anti-Israeli obsession,” the top Israeli diplomat said in a post on X.
It is regrettable that even when Israel fighting an existential threat which is in Europe vital interest – there are those who can’t resist their anti-Israeli obsession.
Shameful! https://t.co/lxm9qm8sM1— Gideon Sa’ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) June 19, 2025
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