(CNN) Israel announced Thursday it was barring the entry of two Democratic US congresswomen after Donald Trump encouraged the move, a remarkable step both by the US President and his ally, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to punish political opponents.

Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely told CNN on Thursday of Israel's decision to ban Reps. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota from entering the country. The announcement came shortly after Trump said Israel would be showing "great weakness" by allowing them to enter the country.

"The plan of the two Congresswomen is only to damage Israel and to foment against Israel," Netanyahu said in a statement following the decision.


The intervention by Trump into Israel's decision-making was extraordinary enough. But the move by Netanyahu's government lent the longstanding US-Israel alliance a new partisan tinge and opened the door for fresh criticism.

Rashida Tlaib: 'I'm not going nowhere, not until I impeach this President'
Rashida Tlaib: 'I'm not going nowhere, not until I impeach this President'
Omar responded to the decision Thursday by calling it "an affront" and "an insult to democratic values."

"It is an affront that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, under pressure from President Trump, would deny entry to representatives of the U.S. government," Omar said in a statement. "Trump's Muslim ban is what Israel is implementing, this time against two duly elected Members of Congress."

Omar went on to say, "As a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, it is my job to conduct oversight of foreign aid from the United States of America and to legislate on human rights practices around the world. The irony of the 'only democracy' in the Middle East making such a decision is that it is both an insult to democratic values and a chilling response to a visit by government officials from an allied nation."

Trump's history feuding with the congresswomen
Trump has criticized the two lawmakers -- who are the first two Muslim women elected to Congress -- in harsh and sometimes racist terms. But his move to call for their ban in Israel reflects a new chapter in his grudge and a further erosion of presidential norms, which in the past sought to avoid instilling partisanship in foreign affairs.

In considering the ban, Israel cited the congresswomen's support for a boycott against Israel.

"The State of Israel respects the American Congress in the framework of the close alliance between the two countries, but it is unthinkable that an entry to Israel would be allowed to those who seek to damage the State of Israel, even during a visit," said Interior Minister Aryeh Deri in a statement. Under Israeli law, the interior minister is the one authorized to make a decision on barring entry.

Deri said he made the decision with the support of Netanyahu and other Israeli officials.

US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman said the US "supports and respects" Israel's decision to deny entry to Tlaib and Omar.

"This trip, pure and simple, is nothing more than an effort to fuel the (boycott movement) engine that Congresswomen Tlaib and Omar so vigorously support," Friedman said in a statement released Thursday evening.

Slamming the boycott movement as "economic warfare designed to delegitimize and ultimately destroy the Jewish State," Friedman defended Israel's right to deny entry to those who support a boycott of the country.


Israel's decision to deny entry to the two freshmen congresswomen amounted to a reversal of a position taken last month when Israeli Ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer said the two would be allowed to visit Israel and the Palestinian territories.

"Out of respect for the U.S. Congress and the great alliance between Israel and America, we would not deny entry to any member of Congress into Israel," Dermer said at the time in widely reported comments. Dermer is considered one of those closest to Netanyahu.

Democratic outrage
The move was met with a swift backlash from Democratic congressional lawmakers, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, who said in a statement she was "deeply saddened" by the news.

"Israel's denial of entry to Congresswomen Tlaib and Omar is a sign of weakness, and beneath the dignity of the great State of Israel," Pelosi said. "The President's statements about the Congresswomen are a sign of ignorance and disrespect, and beneath the dignity of the Office of the President."

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2019/08/15/politics/israel-visit-ilhan-omar-rashida-tlaib-intl/index.html

Ihan Omar and Rashida said all sort of inciting statements against Israel which her fellow Democrats even condemned not only that she even called for the boycott of the Jewish nation (The only existing Jewish Nation) This isn't a Muslim ban but a stupidity ban. Millions of Muslims resides in Israel and are enjoying their respective rights as citizens without disturbance. We all know ihan is a daughter of a terrorist from Somalia and a religious bigot who married her brother

I fully support the ban, those two idiot have no business going to the country they love to hate

What's she going to Israel to do?

She should be visiting countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan, Somalia, Syria, Bangladesh etc

She is disgracing the US government

Now they're reaping the consequences

You cant eat your cake and have it. Good for them.

Oya! Split the argument between Christianity and Islam. (While Israelis are not Christians but Jews) Mumu youths.
Ignorant youths.. Please as a Blackman, go enter Israel and see whether you can survive racism for 3 month.

Trust me those women ain't going back to the Congress not with the growing conservative US populace. Instead of them to face their work they were busy bashing Israel not knowing that the same Israel controls the political arena (behind the scene) in US, coupled with the rock solid support they get from the evangelicals.

You hate a county, yet you want to go there because you want to ride on the wings of democracy and freedom of movement to spread your toxic ideologies . Talk about trying to play the system and take everyone else for a fool. Good decision by Israel.

What Trump will create for the US, the next administration won't be able to cure it in 8years.

MachadoPreto:
What Trump will create for the US, the next administration won't be able to cure it in 8years.

Shattap. Buhari's supporters hating on Trump for no reason. Trump is the best thing to have happened to the US since 1990. U should be happy he deported that your uncle that doesn't come back.

Forget sentiments and shiit, Power is Power

Its a welcome development. No sign of weakness but of strength. U can't be condemning me and I still allow u into my own house.

They are being sponsored by a terrorist sponsoring group. They are openly anti-israel and support BDS.


Israel have no business allowing them in

Good for them.

You cant eat your cake and have it. Good!

Israel under Satanyahu is a fascist hellhole, where people homes are destroy on the west bank. Children and Elders shot at ditto for journalists and health care personnel.

After the GOP lose power, the DNC will surely deal with this Nazi-esque nation.

Little wonder all Black and Pan Africanist support the Palestine cause and despise the apartheid regime in Isreal.

From Nelson Madela to Heuy P Netwon to Rev Desmond Tutu and Rev Cornell West.

Good nice step

like they're making attempt to go there

Trump is one bad ass

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I support the ban.

Why would they want to visit a country they hate so passionately? What were they expecting?

Keep these two clowns out of Israel

Israel has my support on this

You can't abuse me and expect me to welcome you into my house with open arms.

Besides, their criticism of Israel has some religious undertones.

Daddy Trump, I love u sir

[s]

MachadoPreto:
What Trump will create for the US, the next administration won't be able to cure it in 8years.

[/s]
Shutup this is not apc government

trump is the best POTUS ever

kiss the truth

Duggedised12:
You hate a county, yet the want to go there because you want to ride on the wings of democracy and freedom of movement to spread your toxic ideologies . Talk about trying to play the system and take everyone else for a fool. Good decision by Israel.

What a wassock!! Tlaib grandma lives in Palestine and the fascist state won't even let her visit. They ain't visiting Israel but apartheid controlled and blocked Palestine.

ugo4u:
Trust me those women ain't going back to the Congress with the growing conservative US populace. Instead of them to face their work they were busy bashing Israel not knowing that the same Israel controls the political arena (behind the scene) in US, coupled with the rock solid support they get from the evangelicals.

Trump is going back abi.. Nigerian youth contributing!
Trump insulting diplomats around the world, calling other country leaders foolish is the real deal abi

w

ugo4u:
Trust me those women ain't going back to the Congress with the growing conservative US populace. Instead of them to face their work they were busy bashing Israel not knowing that the same Israel controls the political arena (behind the scene) in US, coupled with the rock solid support they get from the evangelicals.

Trump is going back abi.. Nigerian youth contributing!
Link where they bash israel or you keep your mouth shut.