Netanyahu’s Bold Move to Bar Anti-Semitic, Anti-Israel Members of Congress

Today, the Israeli government announced that it would deny Congresswomen Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN) entry to Israel.  The two U.S. lawmakers planned to visit Israel and the West Bank during the August recess.  Israeli officials made this decision because of pressure from President Trump to bar Omar and Tlaib due to their hostility toward Israel and support of the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Boycott (BDS) movement.

Omar and Tlaib planned to arrive in Tel Aviv on Friday. Reflecting their hostility toward Israel and its very existence, the official itinerary of their trip is titled “U.S. Delegation to Palestine.”  (See above image.)

Allowing BDS supporters entry to Israel is barred by Israeli law.  The fact that Omar and Tlaib openly support the BDS movement and recently sponsored pro-BDS legislation in the House reportedly played a factor in this decision.  However, President Trump’s pressure on Prime Minister Netanyahu appeared to be the deciding factor.

Naturally, the Left and President Trump’s opponents are attacking him for this development.  Sadly, the America Israel Public Affairs Committee — which Omar has criticized for buying U.S. politicians — criticized the Israeli government’s decision.  Congressional Democrats also have condemned Trump and Netanyahu for barring the two congresswomen from visiting Israel.  The president posted this tweet on this issue earlier today:

Many, many Jewish Americans are delighted at this principled decision by Prime Minister Netanyahu to bar two haters of Israel from visiting his country.  They know this trip was a ploy to delegitimize and malign Israel from within its borders.