Israel’s top officials have denied Reps. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib entry to their country due to their outspoken, controversial criticism of Israel’s policy toward Palestinians, not to mention their slurs against American Jews as dual loyalists.
The move might be warranted, but it will be politically disastrous.
Newly elected members of Congress from both political parties typically visit Israel to bolster the U.S.-Israeli alliance. Omar and Tlaib agreed to the trip with one caveat: their group would focus on the Palestinian territories in the West Bank and Jerusalem to draw attention to the plight of Palestinians and “humanize” them. But now, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other cabinet members don’t want the trip to move forward.
“Congressmen Talib and Omar are leading activists in promoting boycott legislation against Israel in the US Congress,” Netanyahu wrote on Twitter. “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.”
Israel has every right to deny Omar and Tlaib entry: Both congresswomen support the boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement, and under Israeli law, the government can block any person who supports the movement. But doing so would only help Omar and Tlaib and confirm their narrative that Israel shuts down criticism.
Omar has accused Israel of buying support in the U.S. Congress — a vicious accusation against her colleagues — and Tlaib regularly decries Israel’s policies as illegal and racist. Israel certainly won’t be able to convince them otherwise, but it can give them as little ground as possible for their anti-Israel screeds. This would do the exact opposite. Deny them entry and Omar and Tlaib will have a new sword to swing, and a new rallying cry.
As it stands, Omar and Tlaib have little support in Congress when it comes to their anti-Israel sentiments. The Democratic Party is doing what it can to temper their rhetoric and make sure their policies remain unpopular in the House. But singling out these two lawmakers could reverse the tide and compel the Democrats to stand behind them. In fact, it already has. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Rep. Eliot Engel, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee — two Democratic lawmakers who have criticized Omar and Tlaib in the past — have issued statements condemning Israel’s decision.
Omar and Tlaib’s visit to Israel would not have been productive, but it’s better to let them make fools of themselves than to make martyrs out of them.
