Fox News correspondent Geraldo Rivera stated that he was “really hurt” by the Israeli government’s decision to ban Democratic Reps. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib from entering the country.
The Israeli government announced Thursday morning that the two congresswomen would not be allowed to enter the country days before their anticipated arrival, citing a law that allows the country to forbid people who have publicly supported calls to boycott Israel. Both Omar and Tlaib advocate for the boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement, which attempts to penalize Israel over their treatment of Palestinians.
Tlaib was then granted access to visit the country and her grandmother who resides there on a “humanitarian request,” after she promised not to “promote boycotts against Israel,” albeit she has since announced that she is not likely to go anymore.
[Related: Top Hamas official backs Omar and Tlaib after Israel ban]
#BREAKING: Israel will allow Congresswomen @RashidaTlaib to enter Israel to visit her Grandmother on the bases of a “humanitarian request” & due to her primose she will not promote boycott activities during this visit (Pic: Tlaib request) pic.twitter.com/A7qYsqGj69
— Amichai Stein (@AmichaiStein1) August 16, 2019
Rivera appeared on Fox & Friends Friday morning and condemned Israel’s previous decision to bar them.
“I am enormously impressed that the congresswoman sought to reassure Israel and the Israeli government that she was not going to be agitating. I think that was a big give on her part. I was appalled — maybe that is too strong a word, it sounds so political — I was hurt when Netanyahu, at President Trump’s urging, said that the two congresswomen were barred,” he answered.
“They have different points of view than we do: one is a Somali refugee, the other a Palestinian American, the first ever,” Rivera continued. “Of course, they have different bundles of personal experiences. Of course, they will see issues differently than we do. I was really hurt that Israel, at the president’s urging, said they couldn’t come. I think that Congresswoman Tlaib has taken a giant step toward assuring people that she is not this crazy radical, going to run off, and cause a revolution in Israel.”
He and Dan Bongino then got into a back and forth over whether or not the West Bank should be considered an “occupied” territory.
