JERUSALEM, Thursday, August 15, 2019 (WAFA) – The Israeli government officially decided today to bar two newly-elected Muslim US congresswomen; Rashida Tlaib, of Palestinian origin, and Ilhan Omar, of Somali origin, from entering Israel ahead of an expected visit that was planned to start on Sunday, according to a statement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The decision to bar the two Democratic congresswomen, who are the first Muslim women to win seats in the US Congress, was proposed by Israeli officials of the right-wing government headed by Netanyahu and was referred to the government for ratification before it was officially announced.
US President Donald Trump has also incited Israel to ban entry of the two US congresswomen.
"It would show great weakness if Israel allowed Rep. Omar and Rep. Tlaib to visit," Trump tweeted, describing them as "a disgrace!"
The newly-elected Muslim Democratic members of Congress are outspoken critics of Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians and support the global boycott movement against Israel, Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS).
Tlaib was born in Detroit after her parents, former residents of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, immigrated to the US. Omar was born in Somalia and immigrated to the US at a young age and became a naturalized American citizen.
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