Israel Bars Entry to Two Democrat Reps, Rashida Tlaib & Ilhan Omar

Lawmakers from Hadash lashed out on Thursday, August 15, at the far-right government of Israel over its decision to bar two US congressional representatives, Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, from entering the country. US President Donald Trump urged the Netanyahu government on Thursday not to back down from a plan to reportedly ban Omar and Tlaib, saying it would show “weakness” to let individuals who “hate all Jewish people” into the country.

Democratic US Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib during a workers' meeting in Michigan, July 24, 2019

Democratic US Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib during a workers’ meeting in Michigan, July 24, 2019 (Photo: Al-Ittihad)

Joint List head MK Ayman Odeh (Hadash) tweeted, “Israel has always banned Palestinians from their land and separated us from other Palestinians, but this time the Palestinian is a US congresswomen, Rashida Tlaib, who didn’t even have to land to expose the true face of Israel’s occupation.”

MK Aida Touma-Sliman (Hadash) also criticized the decision tweeting: “They represent global public opinion – opposed to the occupation and settlements… I [would] welcome their arrival.” Touma-Sliman pointed to Netanyahu’s relations with Trump, calling their alliance one of “racism and occupation.”

MK Yousef Jabareen (Hadash) sent a message to Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump, both of whom reportedly had substantial roles in ensuring the ban was issued. “Netanyahu and Trump: You cannot hide occupation and apartheid,” the statement read. “When you prevent two American congresswomen from entering the country, you only demonstrate the extent to which the occupation further isolates Israel from the family of nations.”

Jabareen also addressed the Michigan and Minnesota Congresswomen: “Rashida and Ilhan: Please know that we appreciate your dedication to justice, peace and equality; you have many partners sharing your vision for the region. We welcome you and hope you will visit.”

Peace Now condemned Netanyahu on Thursday for his decision to ban the entry of US Congresswomen: “Prime Minister Netanyahu, who ceremoniously greeted the fascists Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, refuses to let in US public officials only because he is afraid of their criticism of his, or Trump’s, policies. This is not how a sovereign democracy acts,” Peace Now wrote in a press release, adding that “Netanyahu is turning Israel into a cowardly state, that signs treaties with tyrants and is incapable of coping with criticism; one that has no foreign policy, and, most importantly, no backbone.”