An Israeli government official decided Thursday that U.S. Reps. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., and Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., should be barred from entering the country for a planned visit this weekend, according to Israeli media.
The two freshman congresswomen support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement (BDS), a pro-Palestinian advocacy effort, but Israeli law says those supporting boycotts of the country may be denied entry. The decision to enforce the law against Tlaib and Omar was reportedly made by Israeli Interior Minister Arye Deri, but a formal decision and announcement have yet to be made as other parties reportedly weigh in.
Waivers can be granted for diplomatic figures, however, Haaretz reported. In July, Israel’s U.S. ambassador said the country would not bar U.S. lawmakers out of “respect” for Congress and Israel’s longtime “alliance” with the U.S. President Trump reportedly was frustrated last week when Israel indicated that the congresswomen would be allowed in the country, The Washington Post reported.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced pressure from Democratic leaders and some U.S.-based Israel advocacy groups that were advising against barring the congresswomen, the Post reported.
The Jerusalem Post reported Thursday that Netanyahu met Wednesday with Deri, Foreign Minister Israel Katz, Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan, National Security Council leader Meir Ben-Shabbat, and Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit to discuss the matter.
“The possibility exists that Israel will not allow the visit in its current form,” the officials said at the time, adding, “Professional and legal teams from the government minister [were] continuing to study the materials.” The officials reportedly noted that the decision was ultimately up to the Interior Minister.
The Ministry of the Interior did not immediately respond to Fox News’ request for comment.
On Thursday, Israeli Channel 13’s Barak Ravid reported that according to officials, Netanyahu had been considering allowing Tlaib and Omar to enter Israel, but only to travel within the territories controlled by the Palestinian Authority.
BREAKIN: Netanyahu is considering letting Congresswomen Omar & Tlaib enter Israel but limiting their movements only to the Palestinian Authority, Israeli officials tell @aviadglickman and me
— Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) August 15, 2019
Another official reportedly said that Tlaib would be allowed to visit family in the West Bank if she filed a humanitarian request.
BREAKING: Israeli official tells me that if Congresswoman @RashidaTlaib will file a humanitarian request to visit her family on the West Bank the Israeli government will consider it favourably
— Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) August 15, 2019
Tlaib and Omar were scheduled to arrive in Israel on Friday. Ravid reported for Axios that Israel was worried that the congresswomen would visit the Temple Mount — the holiest site for Jews and third holiest for Muslims — along with Palestinian Authority officials.
