Congresswoman rejects Israel visa over ‘oppressive conditions’
I have decided that visiting my grandmother under these oppressive conditions stands against everything I believe in RASHIDA TLAIB US congresswoman
US President Donald Trump called US congresswoman Rashida Tlaib’s bid to visit her grandmother in Israel a “setup” after she refused the nation’s offer of a U-turn on her permission to enter.
He then claimed the “only winner” was her grandmother as she “did not have to see her”.
It comes after Israel on Thursday barred Ms Tlaib and fellow Democratic congresswoman Ilhan Omar from making a planned visit this weekend, citing their support for the pro-Palestinian Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement against Israeli policies towards Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The congresswoman had planned a five-day visit to the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, starting today.
Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely said on Thursday that the decision had been made not to allow them into the country.
Then, on Friday, Israel said it had agreed to let Ms Tlaib visit the West Bank after she wrote to the interior ministry requesting permission “to visit relatives, and specifically my grandmother, who is in her 90s”. She said it “could be my last opportunity to see her”.
But when the acceptance came, Ms Tlaib turned down the offer, citing “oppressive conditions meant to humiliate me”.
Ms Tlaib said in a series of tweets on Friday that making the visit under these conditions was not what her grandmother would want.
“Silencing me & treating me like a criminal is not what she wants for me. It would kill a piece of me. I have decided that visiting my grandmother under these oppressive conditions stands against everything I believe in – fighting against racism, oppression & injustice.”
Mr Trump then waded into the debate saying the whole thing had been a “set up”. On Friday he tweeted, “Rep Tlaib wrote a letter to Israeli officials desperately wanting to visit her grandmother.
“Permission was quickly granted, whereupon Tlaib obnoxiously turned the approval down, a complete setup. The only real winner here is Tlaib’s grandmother. She doesn’t have to see her now!”
The two congresswomen also said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claims the pair didn’t want to meet officials was not true.
Ms Omar tweeted on Friday that they planned to meet Jewish and Arab members of the Israeli parliament plus other Israeli officials.
She said they were going to get briefings on the effect of Israeli settlements on Bedouins in east Jerusalem and a UN briefing on the effects of US humanitarian aid cuts, hold a video conference with Gaza youth and tour the West Bank city of Hebron with Israeli military veterans.