Ilhan Omar to introduce bill in US Congress against Israel military package

Representative Ilhan Omar plans to introduce a bill this week that would disapprove of a multi-million-dollar US military package to Israel, which would mark the first such dissent by a member of US Congress, according to a report by the Huffington Post.

The package that Omar is reportedly opposing is a proposal by President Joe Biden's administration for a US$320 million package of bombs for Israel, which the Huffington Post describes as "the first congressional challenge to the US's policy of uninterrupted and expanding military support for Israel amid its devastating campaign in Gaza."

The bill is expected to be introduced by Wednesday and will be known as a "resolution of disapproval" about the military package. Several Democratic co-sponsors are expected for the bill.

Omar, who is part of the "squad" of progressive Democrats in the House of Representatives, has faced consistent criticism from Republicans, as well as members of her own party, over some of her comments and stances on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 

When the Republicans took back the House after the last election, Omar lost her position on the influential Foreign Affairs Committee for what her critics said was "repeated anti-Semitic and anti-American remarks" – a move she described as revenge to appease former President Donald Trump.

Omar, who has been ramping up her criticism of Israel and US policy of Israel since its outbreak conflict with Gaza, is facing several challengers for her 2024 race for the general election as well as for her own party's primary.