Israel has banned U.S. member of Congress Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar from visiting the country.
Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely appeared on Israel’s Reshet Radio on Thursday and said, “The decision has been made, the decision is not to allow them to enter,” Reuters reported.
Hotovely has since confirmed the news in statements to other media outlets, such as CNN, but has not yet specified an official reason for the bans.
Israeli reporter Dana Weiss tweeted that the ban had been officially drafted and passed, citing “suspected provocations and promotion of BDS,” a reference to the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
It’s official: Israel will bar Congresswomen @RashidaTlaib and @IlhanMN from entering Israel due to “suspected provocations and promotion of BDS” at this time the final decision is been drafted and passed for comments before a press release. https://t.co/YikKaKe97g
— Dana Weiss (@danawt) August 15, 2019
In accordance with Israeli law, supporters of the movement can be denied entry unless a waiver is issued.
President Trump tweeted earlier Thursday morning, “It would show great weakness if Israel allowed Rep. Omar and Rep.Tlaib to visit. They hate Israel & all Jewish people, & there is nothing that can be said or done to change their minds. Minnesota and Michigan will have a hard time putting them back in office. They are a disgrace!”
It would show great weakness if Israel allowed Rep. Omar and Rep.Tlaib to visit. They hate Israel & all Jewish people, & there is nothing that can be said or done to change their minds. Minnesota and Michigan will have a hard time putting them back in office. They are a disgrace!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 15, 2019
Last month, Israel’s ambassador to the U.S. said Israel would not ban members of U.S. Congress out of “respect” for U.S.-Israel relations, the Washington Post reported.
Omar, a traditional Muslim, has been accused of anti-Semitism since she was cast in the spotlight during her Congressional campaign, and again since her swearing in.
Among numerous comments, she tweeted in 2012, “Israel has hypnotized the world, may Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel,” Fox News reported.
She has also called Israel “counteractive” and “not helpful in getting that two-state solution” during the campaign trail, and only after winning her election did she reveal her stark opposition to Israel.
“Ilhan believes in and supports the BDS movement, and has fought to make sure people’s right to support it isn’t criminalized,” her campaign told MuslimGirl, as reported by Fox News.
Similarly, Tlaib has also been openly supportive of sanctions against Israel.
Tlaib appeared on CNN with Jake Tapper last month and discussed her support for the anti-Israel BDS movement, which she defended as “criticizing the racist policies of Israel,” according to Real Clear Politics.
