Post by Guadalupe on Aug 15, 2019 14:10:41 GMT -5
It's about time.
Israel bans entry to outspoken Muslim U.S. congresswomen
(OneNewsNow)
JERUSALEM (August 15, 2019) - Israel said Thursday that it will bar two Democratic congresswomen from entering the country ahead of a planned visit over their support for an anti-Israel movement, a decision announced shortly after President Donald Trump tweeted that it would "show great weakness" to allow them in.
Interior Minister Aryeh Deri issued a statement saying that after consultations with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior Israeli officials he decided not to allow Reps. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota to enter because of "their boycott activities against Israel."
The two newly-elected Muslim members of Congress are outspoken critics of Israel and recently sponsored a move to have the U.S. join the Boycott-Divest-Sanction movement against Israel. Their resolution failed by a wide margin.
In defending Israel's decision, Netanyahu said "only a few days ago, we received their visitation plan, and it became clear that they were planning a campaign whose sole purpose was to strengthen the boycott and negate Israel's legitimacy.
"For example, they defined their visit destination as 'Palestine' rather than 'Israel,' and unlike all Democratic and Republican congressmen to date, they have avoided seeking any meeting with an official Israeli official in both the government and the opposition," the prime minister added. "
Shortly before the decision was announced, Trump had tweeted that "it would show great weakness" if Israel allowed them to visit. "They hate Israel & all Jewish people, & there is nothing that can be said or done to change their minds." He went on to call the two congresswomen "a disgrace."
Israel has sought to combat the BDS movement, which advocates boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israeli businesses, universities and cultural institutions. The country passed a law permitting a ban on entry to any activist who "knowingly issues a call for boycotting Israel." Last month, however, Israeli ambassador to the U.S. Ron Dermer had said Israel would not deny entry to any member of Congress.
Supporters of the boycott movement say it is a non-violent way to protest Israeli policies and call for Palestinian rights. Critics say the movement aims to delegitimize Israel and ultimately erase it from the map, replacing it with a binational state.
Israel often hosts delegations of U.S. representatives and senators, who usually meet with senior Israeli officials as well as Palestinian officials in the occupied West Bank.
The decision to ban the congresswomen could further sharpen divisions among U.S. Democrats over Israel ahead of the 2020 elections. Republicans have amplified the views of left-wing Democrats like Tlaib and Omar to present the party as deeply divided and at odds with Israel. Democratic leaders have pushed back, reiterating the party's strong support for Israel, in part to protect representatives from more conservative districts.
In July, the Democratic-led House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly in favor of a resolution against the BDS movement.
The U.S. envoy to Israel says he supports Israel's decision to deny entry to the two Muslim congresswomen.
Ambassador David Friedman said Thursday in a statement following the Israeli government's announcement that Israel "has every right to protect its borders" against promoters of boycotts "in the same manner as it would bar entrants with more conventional weapons."
Friedman says that the movement calling for boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel "is no less than economic warfare designed to delegitimize and ultimately destroy the Jewish State."
(OneNewsNow)
JERUSALEM (August 15, 2019) - Israel said Thursday that it will bar two Democratic congresswomen from entering the country ahead of a planned visit over their support for an anti-Israel movement, a decision announced shortly after President Donald Trump tweeted that it would "show great weakness" to allow them in.
Interior Minister Aryeh Deri issued a statement saying that after consultations with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior Israeli officials he decided not to allow Reps. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota to enter because of "their boycott activities against Israel."
The two newly-elected Muslim members of Congress are outspoken critics of Israel and recently sponsored a move to have the U.S. join the Boycott-Divest-Sanction movement against Israel. Their resolution failed by a wide margin.
In defending Israel's decision, Netanyahu said "only a few days ago, we received their visitation plan, and it became clear that they were planning a campaign whose sole purpose was to strengthen the boycott and negate Israel's legitimacy.
"For example, they defined their visit destination as 'Palestine' rather than 'Israel,' and unlike all Democratic and Republican congressmen to date, they have avoided seeking any meeting with an official Israeli official in both the government and the opposition," the prime minister added. "
Shortly before the decision was announced, Trump had tweeted that "it would show great weakness" if Israel allowed them to visit. "They hate Israel & all Jewish people, & there is nothing that can be said or done to change their minds." He went on to call the two congresswomen "a disgrace."
Israel has sought to combat the BDS movement, which advocates boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israeli businesses, universities and cultural institutions. The country passed a law permitting a ban on entry to any activist who "knowingly issues a call for boycotting Israel." Last month, however, Israeli ambassador to the U.S. Ron Dermer had said Israel would not deny entry to any member of Congress.
Supporters of the boycott movement say it is a non-violent way to protest Israeli policies and call for Palestinian rights. Critics say the movement aims to delegitimize Israel and ultimately erase it from the map, replacing it with a binational state.
Israel often hosts delegations of U.S. representatives and senators, who usually meet with senior Israeli officials as well as Palestinian officials in the occupied West Bank.
The decision to ban the congresswomen could further sharpen divisions among U.S. Democrats over Israel ahead of the 2020 elections. Republicans have amplified the views of left-wing Democrats like Tlaib and Omar to present the party as deeply divided and at odds with Israel. Democratic leaders have pushed back, reiterating the party's strong support for Israel, in part to protect representatives from more conservative districts.
In July, the Democratic-led House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly in favor of a resolution against the BDS movement.
The U.S. envoy to Israel says he supports Israel's decision to deny entry to the two Muslim congresswomen.
Ambassador David Friedman said Thursday in a statement following the Israeli government's announcement that Israel "has every right to protect its borders" against promoters of boycotts "in the same manner as it would bar entrants with more conventional weapons."
Friedman says that the movement calling for boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel "is no less than economic warfare designed to delegitimize and ultimately destroy the Jewish State."