Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could prevent Democratic Reps. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib from entering Israel over their support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.
The lawmakers plan on visiting Israel and the West Bank in the coming weeks, but Israeli law allows officials to deny entry to anyone who supports the boycott of Israel.
Haaretz reported Thursday that the congresswomen could be allowed to enter if the Foreign Ministry recommends a waiver on the basis that they are political figures and a denial of entrance would have a negative effect on U.S.-Israeli relations. Due to the sensitivity of the issue, Netanyahu would be asked to make the final call.
Omar and Tlaib were the first Muslim women to be elected to Congress last year. Omar, of Minnesota, was born in Somalia and came to the United States as a refugee. Tlaib was born in Michigan to Palestinian parents. Both have been outspoken about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, leading to accusations that they are anti-Semitic.
In 2012, Omar tweeted that Israel had “hypnotized the world” to hide its “evil doings.” This year she came under fire for saying U.S. politicians only support Israel because of financial support.
Omar said this week she was introducing a resolution supporting the right to boycott Israel, seeking to push back against another resolution that condemns the BDS movement. Tlaib is a co-sponsor of the resolution.
Tlaib was criticized in May after she said the Holocaust gave her “kind of a calming feeling” because Palestinians helped create “a safe haven for Jews” in the aftermath.
Netanyahu and President Trump have had a close alliance since the president was elected. Trump has targeted the congresswomen in the past week, telling them to “go back” to the countries they came from.
