(Times of Israel) Israel’s Interior Minister Aryeh Deri announced on Thursday that Israel has decided to deny entry to two US congresswomen, Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, over their support for boycotting the Jewish state. The two had been expected to travel to Israel and the West Bank this weekend.
Deri’s move was quickly endorsed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman said the US government supported and respected Israel’s decision to bar the two BDS-backing lawmakers. The move was immediately panned by left-wing and Arab Israeli lawmakers, some US Democrats and several American Jewish groups.
Omar said it was a “chilling” decision and an “insult to democratic values.” Tlaib said it was “a sign of weakness” because “the truth of what is happening to Palestinians is frightening.”
