On Thursday, Israeli officials reversed their initial decision and decided not to allow Reps. Ilan Omar and Rashida Tlaib from their planned visit. The two congresswomen were scheduled to land in Tel Aviv on Friday on a trip that was put together by the non-profit organization Miftah.

Israel’s Minister of Interior announced that the decision to deny entry to Reps. Omar and Tlaib was based on their “boycott activities against Israel.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the two lawmakers’s travel plans were to “Palestine” and not Israel, and that Omar and Tlaib didn’t plan on meeting with officials of Israel, but that their itinerary “revealed that they planned a visit whose sole objective is to strengthen the boycott against us and deny Israel’s legitimacy.”

President Trump urged Israeli officials to block Reps. Omar and Tlaib from visiting Israel. Thursday morning, Trump tweeted, “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. Minnesota and Michigan will have a hard time putting them back in office. They are a disgrace!”

Reps. Tlaib and Omar are the first Muslims elected to Congress and they are both extremely harsh critics of Trump. Both women have also been outspoken about their support of Palestinians and the boycott-Israel movement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu explained the decision made by Interior Minister Arye Deri in a series of tweets:


“No country in the world respects America and the American Congress more than the State of Israel. As a free and vibrant democracy, Israel is open to critics and criticism with one exception: Israeli law prohibits the entry into Israel of those who call for and work to impose boycotts on Israel, as do other democracies that prohibit the entry of people who seek to harm the country. In fact, in the past the US did this to an Israeli member of Knesset, as well as to other public figures from around the world.”

“Congresswomen Tlaib and Omar are leading activists in promoting the legislation of boycotts against Israel in the American Congress.”

“Only a few days ago, we received their itinerary for their visit in Israel, which revealed that they planned a visit whose sole objective is to strengthen the boycott against us and deny Israel’s legitimacy. For instance: they listed the destination of their trip as Palestine and not Israel, and unlike all Democratic and Republican members of Congress who have visited Israel, they did not request to meet any Israeli officials, either from the government or the opposition. For instance: they listed the destination of their trip as Palestine and not Israel, and unlike all Democratic and Republican members of Congress who have visited Israel, they did not request to meet any Israeli officials, either from the government or the opposition.”

The president tweeted, “Representatives Omar and Tlaib are the face of the Democrat Party, and they HATE Israel!”

What’s your opinion? Do you think it was right of President Trump to encourage Israel to ban entry of two elected U.S. representatives?