Israel won’t allow entry to US Reps. Tlaib, Omar
US Reps. Tlaib, Omar critical of nation’s policy
Israel says it will prohibit two Democratic congresswomen from a planned visit because of their support for a Palestinian-led boycott movement.
JERUSALEM – Israel said Thursday that it will bar two Democratic congresswomen from entering the country ahead of a planned visit over their support for a Palestinian-led boycott movement, a decision announced after President Donald Trump tweeted allowing the visit would show “great weakness.”
The move to bar Reps. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota from visiting appeared to be unprecedented. It marked a deep foray by Israel into America’s bitterly polarized politics and a sharp escalation of Israel’s campaign against the international boycott movement.
The two newly elected Muslim members of Congress are outspoken critics of Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians and have repeatedly sparred with Trump over a range of issues. Tlaib’s family immigrated to the United States from the West Bank, where she still has close relatives.
They had planned to visit Jerusalem and the West Bank on a tour organized by a Palestinian organization that favors the Palestinians.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is “open to critics and criticism,” except for those who advocate boycotts against it.
“Congresswomen Tlaib and Omar are leading activists in promoting the legislation of boycotts against Israel in the American Congress,” Netanyahu charged. He said the itinerary “revealed that they planned a visit whose sole objective is to strengthen the boycott against us and deny Israel’s legitimacy.”
Omar called the decision “an affront” and “an insult to democratic values.”
“This is not a surprise given the public positions of Prime Minister Netanyahu, who has consistently resisted peace efforts, restricted the freedom of movement of Palestinians, limited public knowledge of the brutal realities of the occupation and aligned himself with Islamophobes like Donald Trump,” Omar said in a statement.
Shortly before the decision was announced, Trump had tweeted that “it would show great weakness” if Israel allowed them to visit. “They hate Israel & all Jewish people, & there is nothing that can be said or done to change their minds.” He went on to call the two congresswomen “a disgrace.”
The U.S. ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, said Israel “has every right to protect its borders” against promoters of boycotts “in the same manner as it would bar entrants with more conventional weapons.”
But several Democratic lawmakers assailed Israel’s action. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., called the snub “beneath the dignity of the great State of Israel.” Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland urged Israel to reconsider the “outrageous” decision.
Top-ranking Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer of New York said it was a sign of weakness instead of strength and “will only hurt the U.S.Israeli relationship and support for Israel in America.”