It Seems Likely Netanyahu Will Block Omar, Tlaib From Entering Israel
Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) will likely be blocked from entering Israel,
The Washington Post reported.
Congressional Democrats were informed Wednesday night that the two would be barred from entering, though it is not immediately clear whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will follow through with it. A senior Israeli official told the Post that the proposal for the upcoming trip — where Omar and Tlaib are expected to visit Israel and Palestinian territories — would likely be blocked in its current form. But the official said if Tlaib, a Palestinian American, requested to visit family on the West Bank it would be “considered favorably.”
Netanyahu has received private warnings from Democrats and some pro-Israel groups about the optics of blocking a sitting member of Congress from entering the country.
Israel recently passed a law that blocks foreign supporters of the BDS movement (boycott, divestment, sanctions) from entering Israel. Both Tlaib and Omar are vocal supporters of the movement, which is designed to shed light on Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.
Whether or not Omar and Tlaib will be permitted to enter Israel takes on heightened significance given President Trump’s recent attacks on the congresswomen. Trump and Netanyahu maintain a particularly close relationship and Netanyahu
even named a fake town after Trump for his support of Israel’s sovereignty over Golan Heights.
www.huffpost.com
