Israel Bars Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar From Visiting

Trump told Israel to bar two Muslim U.S. congresswomen—and it did.
 
Israel banned Ilahn Omar and Rashida Tlaib after pressure from the president.
 
“It would show great weakness if Israel allowed Rep. Omar and Rep. Talib to visit,” he tweeted. “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.”
 
Israel already approved their visit but reneged after Trump’s tweet. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu justified barring the congresswoman because they support a pro-Palestinian boycott movement in Israel.
 
“Congresswoman Tlaib and Omar are leading activists in promoting the legislation of boycotts against Israel in the American Congress,” he stated. “Therefore, the minister of interior has decided not to allow their visit, and I, as prime minister, support his decision.”
 
After Tlaib announced that the restrictions would prevent her from seeing her grandmother, Israel said it would reverse its position again, if she signs a pledge to not promote boycotts against Israel—but she declined. Omar is still barred.
 
“I have decided to not travel to Palestine and Israel at this time,” she stated. “Visiting my grandmother under these oppressive conditions meant to humiliate me would break my grandmother’s heart. This type of oppression is painful for all humanity but it is especially painful for me personally every time I hear my loving family members cry out for the freedom to live and the right to feel human.”