In remarks aimed at Omar, Pelosi says dual loyalty charge is anti-Semitism

Pelosi says support for Israel in Congress “remains ironclad and bipartisan” and assistance to Israel’s security will not end.

“Assistance to Israel is vital and it is not going anywhere, because if you care about American security, you must care about Israel’s security,” she says, to applause.

“It is imperative that Israel retain its qualitative edge and America must ensure that it always does.”

Pelosi says Israel’s founding is “one of the greatest political achievements of the 20th century.”

“Israel and America are connected now and forever. We will never allow anyone to make Israel a wedge issue,” says Pelosi.

She condemns the rocket attacks on Israel from Gaza,  reaffirms Israel’s right to self defense in the north and calls for a peace deal with the Palestinians.

Pelosi indirectly addresses the controversial House resolution condemning various forms of hatred that was sparked by widely condemned suggestions by freshman Democratic congresswoman Ilhan Omar. Omar instigated a firestorm when she accused AIPAC of paying politicians to be pro-Israel. She later apologized for those remarks but ignited a new controversy weeks later when she said that pro-Israel activists were pushing for lawmakers to have “allegiance” to Israel, which critics said amounted to accusing Jews of having “dual loyalty.”

The canard of dual loyalty is “anti-Semitic,” declares Pelosi, without naming Omar.

“I simply declare that to be anti-Semitic is to be anti-American. It has no place in our country,” she says to applause.

Pelosi also condemns the Israel boycott movement and calls for the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel. But a peace deal, adds Pelosi, must ensure “security, security, security” for Israel.