Openly disparaging about Israel, 37-year-old Somali-born Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn) and 43-year-old U.S.-born, Palestinian-descent Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) were banned from entering Israel on an upcoming trip to the holy land. Omar and Tlaib are vociferous backers of the July 9, 2005 Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions [BDS] movement, designed to force Israel to end its so-called occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Rep. Omar was rebuked by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) Feb. 11 for making anti-Semitic remarks about Jews, specifically member of the pro-Israel lobby called the American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee [AIPAC], for saying, “it’s all about the Benjamins, baby.” Both Omar and Tlaib have represented their constituents well who openly despise the Jewish State. Netanyahu told the two Congresswomen that a 2017 Israeli law prohibits entry into Israel.
In 2017, the Jerusalem-based Israeli Knesset [parliament], passed a law banning any foreigner that backed the BDS movement, attempting to ban Israeli products from world markets. “An outrageous act of hostility against he American people and their representatives,” said Palestinian official Hanan Ashrawi. It’s unfathomable that Israel passed a law preventing foreigners, whether member of foreign government or private citizens, for visiting Israel when they support the BDS movement. Tlaibs’ family in the West Bank town of Beit Ur-Foqa looked forward to her visit. “It would show great weakness if Israel allowed Rep. Omar and Rep. Tlaib to visit,” Trump tweeted, backing 100% Netanyahu’s decision to ban the pro-BDS Congresswomen. Israeli officials said they would consider a humanitarian request by Omar to visit her family in the West Bank, despite backing the BDS movement.
Trump tweeted his feelings about Omar and Tlaib. “They hate Israel & all Jewish people, & there’s nothing that can be said or don to change their minds. Minnesota and Michigan will have a hard time putting them back in office. They are a disgrace!” Trump said. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tried to explain his reasoning in banning the two U.S. Congresswomen, something rarely if ever done. “As a vibrant and free democracy, Israel is open to any critic and criticism, with one exception,” said 69-year-old Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “Israel’s law prohibits the entry of people who call and act to boycott Israel, as is the case with other democracies that prevent the entry of people whom the see as harming the country,” Netanyahu said, explaining the ban. Omar and Tlaib’s constituents, largely from the Somali and Arab communities in the U.S., oppose Israeli policies.
Omar and Tlaib oppose Israeli occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. They see Israel and denying Palestinian rights, violating past U.N. Resolutions demanding that Israeli return to the pre-1967 Six-Day-War borders. Before five Arab countries including Palestinians attacked Israel in 1967, Palestinians controlled not one inch of sovereign territory. Egypt controlled the Gaza Strip and Sinai Peninsula. Jordan controlled East Jerusalem and the West Bank. And Syria controlled the Golan Heights. Israel annexed the territories as a buffer zone June 10, 1967, ending the war. Israel defeated five Arab armies including Yasser Arafat’s Palestine Liberation Organization [PLO]. Since the war ended, the PLO referred to East Jerusalem and West Bank as “occupied” territories, despite the fact when Jordan controlled the area, there was no mention of “occupied” territories under Jordanian rule.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) called Netnayahu’ decision to ban Omar and Tlaib from Israle “weak.” “A sign of weakness, and beneath the dignity of the great State of Israel.” U.S. Amb. Israel Ron Demer signaled that he thought Netanyahu would welcome the two U.S. congresswomen but forgot about the 2017 law banning anyone supporting BDS. Pelosi called Netanyahu’s decision “a sign of weakness and beneath the dignity of the great State of Israel,” Pelosi knows that Omar and Tlaib are two the House’s most ardent Israeli critics, backing Palestinian rights. Trump had his run-ins with the so-caled Quad-Squad, including Rep. Alexeandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Minn.), Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Mich.) and Rep. Ayana Pressley (D-Mass). All of whom call for Trump’s impeachment: Trump created quite a stir telling the Quad-Squad to “go back” to where they came.
Brewing more controversy, Omar and Talib are back in the crosshairs, trying to advance their anti-Israeli agenda. When the dust settles, Omar and Tlaib will most likely get to visit the West Bank but won’t get anything close to an officials visit from Israel. Netanyahu knows the both back the BDS movement, demanding that Israel honor 1967 U.N. Resolution 242, requiring Israel to return to the pre-Six-Day-War borders. It’s unrealistic to expect that Omar and Tlaib would be well-received in Israel, given their open opposition to Netnayahu and Israeli’s state policies. Both take the Palestinian position that Israel occupies its territories in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Going to Israel to back more Palestinians violence in the West Bank or East Jerusalem could be viewed as incitement. If Omar and Tlaib showed any openness toward Israel, they would have welcomed with open arms.
