In a move that has stunned Democrats, and shocked much of the world, Israeli officials have decided to block U.S. Reps. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., and Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., from entering the country as part of a planned visit, a reversal that comes amid pressure from President Trump and concerns about their support for boycotts of Israel.
The move prompted a massive outcry from Democratic lawmakers in Washington, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi calling it a “sign of weakness” and Omar accusing Israel of implementing “Trump’s Muslim ban.”
“It is an affront that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, under pressure from President Trump, would deny entry to representatives of the U.S. government,” Omar said in a statement.
But the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – a strong supporter of President Trump –has staunchly defended the decision — suggesting the freshmen lawmakers had ulterior motives with the planned trip.
Netanyahu, explaining his government’s decision at length on his office’s Twitter account, said that Tlaib and Omar’s itinerary “revealed that they planned a visit whose sole objective is to strengthen the boycott against us and deny Israel’s legitimacy.”
President Trump Defends the Move
Of course President Trump, whose tweets many believe prompted the Israeli reversal, supported Netanyahu’s assertions. Soon after hearing about the move to bar their visit, Trump called Tlaib and Omar “very anti-Jewish and anti-Israel” and defended his statements urging Israel to block them from entering the country, amid a massive outcry from Democrats.
Speaking to reporters after deplaning Air Force One at Morristown Municipal Airport in New Jersey, Trump said recent comments by the two freshmen Democratic lawmakers about Israel were “disgraceful,” arguing they have become the “face of the Democrat Party.”
The President continued, “They are very anti-Jewish and they are very anti-Israel, I think it is disgraceful the things they’ve said.” Trump then added, “This isn’t a one-line mistake. What they have said about Israel and Jewish people is a horrible thing and they’ve become the face of the Democrat Party.”
The unprecedented move to bar Tlaib, D-Mich., and Omar, D-Minn., from visiting marks a deep foray by Israel into America’s bitterly polarized politics. Israel’s move came shortly after Trump tweeted that the Israeli government would “show great weakness” if it allowed the lawmakers in.
In a statement, 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 said.
I think Isreal is right, as bad as these two Muslims have bad mouthed Isreal and Jews, they don’t have any right to be there, I don’t care how many grandmothers they have there and as much as these two have spoken about Jews, that their grandmothers would even want to see them. And as much as they hate Jews, I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t try to start something with the Jews while they were there and we as Americans shouldn’t encourage it. Isreal suffered enough criticism when Obama was President. I’m surprised, as much as Democrat hate Jews, that any of them were excepted.
BOTH of these women are VERY anti-Semitic, and racist. They are also BOTH against Israel. WHY should these two be allowed to enter Israel, KNOWING they both hate this Country ?
These Representatives do not represent the Citizens of the United States. They represent a miniscule group of voters, not of citizens, of small sections of the United States. They do not represent the government either.
@netanyahu , God Bless you and Israel. As a Christian American, I am so very thankful that Israel, you Sir, did not allow two of America’s worst, most racists, hateful anti semitic, anti Christian members of Congress to have visa’s to visit Israel and stir up troubles. Blessings.
The “squad” hate Israel and the Jewish people of Israel….
But that wouldn’t stop AMERICAN JEWS from voting for them!!!!!
It’s mind boggling how that works and defies rational explanation!!!!!!!!!!
Terrifyingly true, the face of our government today looks nothing like the government chosen to represent the citizens of this great country. There are strangers masquerading as true servants of the people. They have brought their un-American ideas into our government and into our homes. They work tirelessly to poison the minds of our younger population and uneducated people. The states they supposedly ‘represent’ must be ashamed and embarrassed to have elected these phony women. They are filled with hate for this country and are doing their best to destroy as much as they can. Wake up America. Here they finally are…right on our doorsteps.