Published: 16 August 2019
Last updated: 4 March 2024
Israel’s decision on Thursday to block two American congresswomen from entering the country amid pressure from Donald Trump drew widespread criticism in Washington, with some Democrats warning the move threatened to erode US support for its longtime ally.
In an unprecedented chain of events, the Israeli government declared it would bar entry to representatives Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, the first two Muslim women elected to Congress, ahead of a planned visit to the West Bank. The move came just hours after Trump publicly urged Israel not to allow the two Democratic lawmakers into the country in a highly unusual effort to influence a foreign government against his political opponents.
Israel bars Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib from visiting (BBC)
Israel is blocking two US Democratic lawmakers, who are prominent critics of the Israeli government, from visiting. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib were due to visit the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem next week. Both have supported the boycott movement against Israel, but Israeli law allows supporters of the campaign to be banned from visiting.
Israel announces US lawmakers Omar and Tlaib will not be allowed to visit (Times of Israel)
Move comes after Trump tweeted that letting them in would ‘show great weakness’; ministry would consider allowing in Tlaib to visit West Bank relatives on humanitarian grounds
AIPAC, pro-Israel US lawmakers rebuke Netanyahu over Omar-Tlaib ban (Haaretz)
Tweet by pro-Israel lobby group marks second time in recent months it published a statement containing some level of criticism over a decision by Netanyahu
Photo: Omar (left) and Tlaib (Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA)
