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Trump Forces Israel To Ban Visit By Omar and Tlaib

h-hawk

HR King
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Jan 29, 2002
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No matter what one thinks of their politics, this is none of the President's business and shows how subordinate the Israeli leader is to Donald.

"Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), two of Israel’s sharpest critics in Congress, have been barred from entering the country ahead of their proposed visit to the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, an Israeli official said Thursday.

“The decision has been made [and] the decision is not to allow them to enter,” Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely told Israel’s Reshet Radio, Reuters reported."

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/israel-bars-ilhan-omar-rashida-tlaib_n_5d553e3be4b056fafd07f1bb
 
Lying POS Trump:

President Trump called on Thursday for Israel to bar the entry of two American congresswomen who had planned to visit the West Bank, taking an extraordinary step to influence an allied nation and punish his political opponents at home.

It was reported last week that Mr. Trump was pressing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel to deny entrance to the two women, Representatives Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, and Thursday morning he left little doubt. He said in a Twitter post while Israeli officials were still deliberating the matter that “it would show great weakness if Israel allowed Rep. Omar and Rep. Tlaib to visit.”



Israel is still weighing whether to deny entry to Ms. Omar and Ms. Tlaib, officials said on Thursday. Both women have been vocal in their support of the Palestinians and the boycott-Israel movement.

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Mr. Trump’s decision to recommend that another country block entry to two United States citizens, let alone members of Congress, is one of the most pronounced violations of democratic norms that he has engaged in since taking office in January 2017.

It also placed him at odds with the Republican leadership in Congress.

“I feel very secure in this, that anyone who comes with open ears, open eyes and an open mind will walk away with an understanding, just as all these members here do, that this bond is unbreakable,” the House minority leader, Representative Kevin McCarthy of California, told reporters in Jerusalem on Sunday, while leading a delegation of 31 Republican lawmakers. “I think all should come.”

Speaking at a joint news conference with Mr. McCarthy, Representative Steny Hoyer, the House majority leader, who was heading a delegation to Israel of 41 Democratic representatives, agreed.

Many Israelis and Jewish leaders have also expressed discomfort with the idea that American officials could be denied entry because of their beliefs or criticism of Israel. Just last month, the Israeli ambassador to Washington, Ron Dermer, said that Israel would not deny entry to any United States representatives.

Ms. Omar, a Minnesota Democrat, and Ms. Tlaib, a Michigan Democrat, were scheduled to arrive on Sunday for a tour of the West Bank, partly under the auspices of an organization headed by a longtime Palestinian lawmaker, Hanan Ashrawi, that was expected to highlight Palestinian grievances over the Israeli occupation.


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The women were planning to visit the West Bank cities of Hebron, Ramallah and Bethlehem, as well as Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem, including a visit to the Al Aqsa Mosque, a hotly contested and volatile holy site, according to Ms. Ashrawi. Most of the delegation was expected to depart on Aug. 22, but Ms. Tlaib had been planning to stay on to visit relatives in the West Bank.

No meetings had been planned with either Israeli or Palestinian officials, other than Ms. Ashrawi, who is also a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s executive committee. She said the organization she leads, Miftah, was co-sponsoring the visit.

The purpose of the visit, Ms. Ashrawi said, was to give the congresswomen a way “to engage with the Palestinian people directly and to see things on the ground.”

“What are they afraid of?” she said, referring to the Israeli government. “That they might find out things?”

Ms. Tlaib and Ms. Omar, both freshmen, are the first two Muslim women elected to Congress. Ms. Tlaib, who is of Palestinian descent, has spoken often of her grandmother, who lives on the West Bank, while Ms. Omar, a Somali refugee, is the first woman to wear a hijab on the House floor.

But while they were hailed as symbols of diversity when they arrived in Washington, they quickly became embroiled in controversy over their statements on Israel and on supporters of the Jewish state. Ms. Omar apologized after she said support for Israel was “all about the Benjamins, baby” — a reference to $100 bills.

In early March, the House voted to condemn all forms of hatred after Ms. Omar said pro-Israel activists were “pushing for allegiance to a foreign country,” a remark that critics in both parties said invoked the longstanding anti-Semitic trope of “dual loyalty.”



Those remarks have been deeply problematic for Democratic leaders, who are trying to demonstrate solidarity with Israel. And they have given Mr. Trump and his fellow Republicans an opening to fan the flames of racial division, in an effort to break the longstanding alliance between American Jews and the Democratic Party.

Ms. Omar and Ms. Tlaib’s public support for the boycott movement had already drawn criticism from the White House. In remarks last month that were widely condemned as racist, Mr. Trump said that four congresswomen of color — Ms. Omar and Ms. Tlaib, as well as Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Ayanna S. Pressley of Massachusetts — should “go back” to the countries they came from. Since then, the chant of “send her back” has become a fixture at President Trump’s political rallies.

Axios reported recently that President Trump had told advisers that he thought Mr. Netanyahu should bar Ms. Tlaib and Ms. Omar under a law that denies entry to foreign nationals who publicly show support for a boycott.

Under the law, passed in 2017, Israel can bar entry to people considered prominent advocates of the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement, a loose network that, among other goals, aims to pressure Israel into ending the occupation of the West Bank. Pro-Israel advocates accuse the movement’s supporters of anti-Semitism.

Last month, the United States House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan resolution condemning the boycott-Israel movement as one that “promotes principles of collective guilt, mass punishment and group isolation, which are destructive of prospects for progress towards peace.”

Mr. Netanyahu, for his part, is in the middle of a tight election campaign, and some analysts say he can ill afford to appear weak when dealing with high-profile critics of Israeli policies. At the same time, he is involved in a high-wire act of trying to balance Israel’s ties with the Democrats and his close embrace of, and support from, Mr. Trump.

“If they are prevented from entering, it will be the foolishness of the Netanyahu government,” said Alon Pinkas, a former Israeli consul general in New York, told Israel’s Army Radio on Thursday. “These are congresswomen of the majority party, which most American Jews vote for.”

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One of the main points of contention over the planned itinerary appears to be the visit to the Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem. A sacred site revered by Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary and by Jews as Temple Mount, the location of their ancient temples, it is a frequent flash point in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Danny Ayalon, a former Israeli ambassador to the United States and a former deputy foreign minister, told Israel’s Kan Radio on Thursday that the congresswomen should be allowed to enter Israel “but with restrictions.”

“If they want to stage a provocation by entering the Temple Mount with Palestinian hosts, then that can be prevented,” he said.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/15/...tion=click&module=Top Stories&pgtype=Homepage
 
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Allowing them to use a trip like this to attack Israel the second they return to the US would be incredibly stupid. That is exactly what they would do.

Trump let Israel know it was fine not to let them come.

Right decision
 
Caught between the opposing views of President Trump and Democratic leaders, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reversed himself on Thursday and decided to prohibit Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) from visiting Israel during a trip scheduled to start Sunday.

The move followed an unusual intervention by Trump and immediately opened up a new battle between Netanyahu and Democrats, who had privately warned that such a decision would be unprecedented and inconsistent with Israel’s claims of tolerance and openness.

“The decision has been made; the decision is not to allow them to enter,” Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely told Israel’s Reshet Radio.

Several pro-Israel groups in the United States criticized the decision, an about-face on the part of Netanyahu’s government.

“Any sitting member of Congress should be welcome to visit Israel as official representatives of Israel’s closest ally and most critical source of international support,” said the Israel Policy Forum, a New York-based Jewish organization. “We strongly urge Prime Minister Netanyahu to reconsider.”

The Democratic Party’s leading progressive presidential primary candidates also swiftly condemned the decision, with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) calling it a “sign of enormous disrespect to these elected leaders” and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) warning that it would be a “shameful, unprecedented move.”

Small but united: Understanding the four-congresswomen 'Squad'

President Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi both face battles with four Democratic Congresswomen, known as the "Squad." Here's what you need to know. (Elyse Samuels, Allie Caren/The Washington Post)
Last month, Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer said the two congresswomen would be allowed to visit Israel “out of respect for the U.S. Congress and the great alliance between Israel and America.” But on Wednesday, Israeli officials informed congressional leaders that Netanyahu had changed his mind and Israel would prohibit the two vocal critics of Israel from entering the country, congressional aides said. Like others, they spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive deliberations.

Israeli officials told U.S. lawmakers said they would formally announce the decision to bar Omar and Tlaib on Wednesday, but after a private backlash from Democratic leadership and some U.S.-based pro-Israel groups, the announcement was moved to Thursday, initially leaving lawmakers uncertain about whether Netanyahu had changed his mind.

Trump weighed in Thursday morning on the impending decision, writing on Twitter: “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.” Pivoting to domestic politics, Trump added: “Minnesota and Michigan will have a hard time putting them back in office. They are a disgrace!”

The lawmakers have repeatedly denied harboring any animus toward Jews or Israelis and have said their criticisms of the Israeli government are based on policy differences.

With three weeks to go before a repeat election on Sept. 17, Netanyahu is fighting a bitter battle to stay in office and wants to appear strong to his fractured right-wing support base.

‘Some people did something:’ Rep. Omar’s remarks in context | The Fact Checker

The remarks of the freshman member of Congress during an address to a Muslim rights organization spawned controversy, but it was just a snippet. (Video: Meg Kelly/Photo: Atthar Mirza/The Washington Post)
Omar and Tlaib’s trip to Jerusalem and the West Bank was planned by Miftah, a nonprofit organization headed by Palestinian lawmaker and longtime peace negotiator Hanan Ashrawi.

The question about their entry status arose because of a recently passed Israeli law that denies entry visas to foreign nationals who publicly back or call for any kind of boycott — economic, cultural or academic — against Israel or its West Bank settlements.

The goal of the measure is to battle the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement, which protests Israeli treatment of the Palestinians and has found growing support in Europe and the United States in recent years.

Trump, who maintains a close relationship with Netanyahu, has said the lawmakers should “go back” to the countries they came from in remarks widely condemned as racist. Tlaib was born in Michigan, and Omar was born in Somalia. Both have loudly criticized Israel’s human rights record and treatment of Palestinians.

Neither of their offices responded to requests for comment.

House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) took the issue up with Israeli officials on Wednesday on behalf of the Democratic leadership, but could not convince the government to let the lawmakers in.

Hoyer, who just returned from a trip to Israel sponsored by the powerful pro-Israel lobbying organization AIPAC, was seen as an obvious point person for the dispute, given his close relationship with the Israeli government.

Most Democrats in Congress are far more reluctant to criticize Israel than Tlaib or Omar, and many have spoken out against their remarks criticizing Israel’s policies and influence on Capitol Hill. But congressional aides said many in the party would forcefully oppose an Israeli decision to block two women of color from traveling to the country.

[How ‘the Squad’ learned to handle Trump’s attacks]

It’s unclear what might have changed the Israeli position from last week, when Axios reported that an interagency meeting was held in which all government agencies agreed the visit should be allowed in order to avoid damaging the U.S.-Israeli relationship.

Anticipation for the visit generated significant media attention in Israel. This week, Knesset member and former Jerusalem mayor Nir Barkat said he would be willing to meet the freshman lawmakers but not if “they come with their opinion and create propaganda or make havoc in our country.”

A person involved with the trip who was not authorized to talk to the media said the congresswomen hoped to arrive in the region Sunday, depending on Israel’s final decision.

Tlaib hoped to stay some extra days to see her grandmother, who lives in a West Bank village.

No official meetings were scheduled for the U.S. lawmakers, but they were planning to travel to the Palestinian cities of Bethlehem, Hebron and Ramallah and spend time in Jerusalem.

They were scheduled to meet during their stay with Israeli and Palestinian civil society groups, humanitarian workers and young people and see one of the East Jerusalem hospitals affected by recent cuts in U.S. aid to the Palestinians.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/colu...rump-derangement-syndrome-20180801-story.html
 
No matter what one thinks of their politics, this is none of the President's business and shows how subordinate the Israeli leader is to Donald.

"Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), two of Israel’s sharpest critics in Congress, have been barred from entering the country ahead of their proposed visit to the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, an Israeli official said Thursday.

“The decision has been made [and] the decision is not to allow them to enter,” Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely told Israel’s Reshet Radio, Reuters reported."

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/israel-bars-ilhan-omar-rashida-tlaib_n_5d553e3be4b056fafd07f1bb
Another fake news headline.They should let em in then keep em.
 
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So, a couple of criminals, trump and netenyahoo, collaborate to punish a couple of representatives, because of their use of the 1st amendment. What is our country coming to, and more importantly, why are people supporting this bullshit? Why do our own citizens hate everything about democracy?
Being the liberal tard you are why dont you tell us?
 
Don't see where Trump had anything to do with the banning. David Duke's support of them was probably enough.

You're kidding yourself if you think Trump's tweets over the past week had nothing to do with this. Omar's and Tlaib's participation in the congressional delegation was barely a blip on the radar until Trump chimed in. Just a month ago, the Israeli ambassador said they would be allowed in. It's also not helping that Netanyahu is facing his 2nd tough election this year later on this fall.

This is blatant pandering by Netanyahu and more pettiness by Trump.

Strange how the GOP had no problem inviting Netanyahu to address Congress without consulting Obama, but this is okay by them.
 
ECBYKMyU8AAQ8Kz
 
You're kidding yourself if you think Trump's tweets over the past week had nothing to do with this. Omar's and Tlaib's participation in the congressional delegation was barely a blip on the radar until Trump chimed in. Just a month ago, the Israeli ambassador said they would be allowed in. It's also not helping that Netanyahu is facing his 2nd tough election this year later on this fall.

This is blatant pandering by Netanyahu and more pettiness by Trump.

Strange how the GOP had no problem inviting Netanyahu to address Congress without consulting Obama, but this is okay by them.
Says a typical Liberal Teacher!!
 
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The question about their entry status arose because of a recently passed Israeli law that denies entry visas to foreign nationals who publicly back or call for any kind of boycott — economic, cultural or academic — against Israel or its West Bank settlements.

The goal of the measure is to battle the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement, which protests Israeli treatment of the Palestinians and has found growing support in Europe and the United States in recent years.
Aren't those settlements deemed illegal under international law? I've heard that said many times by reliable sources.
 
Israel is a pain in the ass.
they are the area's only democracy and give full citizenship rights to their large Muslim minority. They are also a very valuable and dependable ally. You are obviously oblivious to the facts and only engage in hatred towards them because of your acceptance of the dems which are more and more antisemitic
 
they are the area's only democracy and give full citizenship rights to their large Muslim minority. They are also a very valuable and dependable ally. You are obviously oblivious to the facts and only engage in hatred towards them because of your acceptance of the dems which are more and more antisemitic
Why are the majority of Jewish Americans democrats if the party is antisemitic?
 
It is absurd that Trump has gotten his low-IQ supporters to believe that any criticism of Israel is akin to anti-semitism. Aside from Nebraska fans, I have never seen such a large collection of individuals with such a low collective IQ. It’s astonishing.
 
It is absurd that Trump has gotten his low-IQ supporters to believe that any criticism of Israel is akin to anti-semitism. Aside from Nebraska fans, I have never seen such a large collection of individuals with such a low collective IQ. It’s astonishing.
I dunno they say Israel is a bunch of pigs and they all need to die , so there's that.
 
they are the area's only democracy and give full citizenship rights to their large Muslim minority. They are also a very valuable and dependable ally. You are obviously oblivious to the facts and only engage in hatred towards them because of your acceptance of the dems which are more and more antisemitic
I don’t hate Israel.

I think it shows tremendous weakness for Israel to bar two members of Congress for their speech and beliefs. What would show strength is welcoming Tlaib and Omar and trying to persuade them to abandon the views Israel finds offensive.
 
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