Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY), the only Jewish Republican in Congress, shared an extremely disturbing voicemail his office recently received. In the profane message, the unidentified caller accuses Zeldin's "people" of murdering black people and children and insists "they need to get out of the Palestinian region." You can listen below, but beware of the graphic language.
This new VM just came into my office. @IlhanMN, this is just another day in my world as an American Jew in Congress. Would love to know what part of this hate filled, anti-Semitic rant you disagree with? I disagree with all of it. Do you? pic.twitter.com/4WoJqiATCf
— Lee Zeldin (@RepLeeZeldin) January 31, 2019
For those without the stomach to listen, here's just a snippet of the caller's disturbing language.
He calls the Jewish people "bloodsuckers," "maggots" and "animals" and tells them to "get the hell out of Israel."
“I hate you people for what you did to us as black people,” he said in conclusion. “And I wish Hitler would’ve done his f***ing job.”
You'll notice that Zeldin called out Rep. Ilhan Omar (R-MN) for a response. That's perhaps because she has a history of spewing anti-Israel sentiments. She quickly condemned the caller's voicemail and extended an invitation to her Jewish colleague.
This is heinous and hateful. I too am flooded with bigoted voicemails and calls every day.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) February 1, 2019
Maybe we could meet and share notes on how to fight religious discrimination of all kinds?
Maybe over Somali tea, in your old office which I happen to be in now. https://t.co/FQ909kYSwo
Zeldin said he's "happy to meet" with her, but he's also concerned by the messages Omar was sending just before she posted the above tweet. It just so happens she was comparing Israel to the 1960s American South.
Many of them truly know this, but don’t want to accept it. In the same way many Americans knew separate yet equal was immoral but remained silent until brave few were silent no more.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) February 1, 2019
They can attack, spin my words and vilify me, but they will not succeed in silencing me! https://t.co/JSwhoSQuGF
He also noted that Omar is putting forward hate that he disagrees with, such as her support for the BDS movement, which encourages companies to boycott Israeli goods and services.
Zeldin was adamant that he does not have Islamophobia. His issue with Omar has to do with "her policies and her rhetoric."
"If I'm not outspoken about it," he said, "you’re only hearing one side of it."