Israel banned Democratic Congresswomen Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib from visiting their country after President Donald Trump tweeted that “it would show great weakness” if Israel allowed them in. Both Democratic representatives are known for their explicit stance against Israel’s oppressive policies in the region, and support an ongoing civil protest called the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement—aimed to punish the Israeli government for their treatment of Palestinians.
In response to the growing opposition movement, Israel implemented a law that would allow them to legally prohibit the entrance of any foreigner who supports the movement, but officials had assured that members of the US Congress would be an exception. Rep. Omar and Rep. Tlaib were planning on traveling to Israel and Palestine next week. The trip was meant to begin on Sunday, with Tlaib planning to take two days at the end in order to visit her grandmother in a Palestinian village.
@rashidatlaib
An initial ban
The Israeli interior ministry confirmed the ban saying it was “inconceivable that those who wish to harm the state of Israel while visiting would be granted entry.” What’s strange, however, is that Israel had not only conceived it, but claimed just last month that both Democrats would be allowed to enter the country, with Ambassador Ron Dermer specifying that the special permission came “out of respect for the US Congress and the great alliance between Israel and America.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called Israel’s reversal “deeply disappointing” and “a sign of weakness,” adding that Trump’s comments were “a sign of ignorance and disrespect.” Tom Malinowski, a New Jersey Congressman, said the decision was “disrespectful to Congress” and tweeted a comment directed at Trump’s attacks against his colleagues. “First he tells Congresswoman Tlaib to ‘go back’ to ‘her’ country, and then he tells that country not to let her in,” he said. Even Republican Senator Marco Rubio argued that “denying [the congresswomen] entry into Israel is a mistake.”
@ilhanmn
Backtracking on the backtrack
Soon after the ban was confirmed, however, Israel backtracked yet again. In response to public pressure, the country later declared that it would allow Rashida Tlaib to enter—but maintained the ban on Ilhan Omar. Israel had some conditions, though, saying Tlaib’s visit so she could see her 90-year-old grandmother under strict orders not to stir any political trouble.
Congresswoman Tlaib rejected Israel’s permission and refused to go ahead with her trip, arguing she opposes the oppressive treatment she and millions of Palestinians are subjected to under Israel’s policies.
“I have therefore decided to not travel to Palestine and Israel at this time,” the congresswoman said in a statement. Visiting my grandmother under these oppressive conditions meant to humiliate me would break my grandmother’s heart. Silencing me with treatment to make me feel less-than is not what she wants for me – it would kill a piece of me that always stands up against racism and injustice.”
On her part, Ilhan Omar tweeted a statement directed at Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, suggesting a direct link between Trump’s pressure on Israel and the country’s ultimate decision to ban the congresswomen.
Ongoing political attacks
The incident follows widely controversial and ultimately racist remarks by Trump, who told the congresswomen to “go back to their countries” a few weeks ago. Though Trump has many other political opponents whose families come from other nations, he apparently singled out the congresswomen due to the color of their skin (considering he didn’t tell any white foreign-born opponents to go back to their country).
@ocasio2018Trump’s disturbing political maneuvers keep escalating to unprecedented heights for a democratic nation, and it’s particularly unsettling that he keeps getting away with it. For an American President to use another nation to attack his opponents and deny entry to US citizens is nothing short of tyrannical, and it’s one more among thousands of other red flags about the extremes to which Trump is willing to go to hurt the image of those he dislikes by using executive privilege and influence.
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