Iran Press/America: In an extraordinary move, Netanyahu, with a push from Donald Trump, barred entry for two Muslim lawmakers from Democratic party who support a Palestinian-led boycott of Israel, Reps. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota ahead of their planned visit.
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Israel blocks 2 members of congress from visit
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in an interview with the Associated Press said: "Netanyahu's recent decision to bar two members of Congress from visiting the country has shaken diplomatic norms."
"We have a deep relationship and long-standing relationship with Israel that can withstand Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu," Pelosi said in the interview. "We cannot let their weaknesses stand in the way of our ongoing relationship."
Earlier on Thursday, Trump tweeted that “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,” Trump added. “Minnesota and Michigan will have a hard time putting them back in the office. They are a disgrace!”
Omar and Tlaib, the first two Muslim women elected to Congress, are outspoken critics of both Israel and Trump and members of the so-called “Squad” of four”; along with Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ayanna Pressley, who have been a constant target of Trump’s tweets.
The two lawmakers had planned a trip to visit Palestinian cities in the occupied West Bank. The Israeli government previously had said it would not block the trip. Ocasio-Cortez criticized both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump for blocking Omar and Tlaib’s visit.
“Members of Congress are frequently asked to visit Israel”, she tweeted. “But Netanyahu choosing to ban the only 2 Muslim women in Congress from entering tells the US that only some Americans are welcome to Israel, not all.”
Amid a raging political controversy in Washington and Israel, authorities later granted permission for Tlaib to enter on humanitarian grounds to visit her family in the occupied West Bank.
The role of Washington's ambassador to Israel is also causing controversy. In a statement on Thursday, the envoy, David Friedman backed Israel's decision.
California Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu, lashed out at Friedman's stance called on him to resign.
"He doesn't seem to understand that his allegiance is to America not to a foreign power. He should be defending the rights of Americans to travel to other countries," Lieu said in his recent interview with CNN.
According to the statement from Israel’s interior minister Aryeh Deri, "Congresswoman Tlaib has sent a letter to Minister Deri in which she committed to accept all the demands of Israel to respect the restrictions imposed on her in the visit, and she also promised not to advance boycotts against Israel during her visit," Interior Minister Aryeh Deri said in a statement. 101/211/212
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