Tlaib Announces She Won’t Travel to Israel, Despite Requesting and Receiving Permission to Visit Relative

 

Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-13) said she has ultimately decided to not visit Israel or Palestine, despite being given permission to do so from the Israeli government.

Tlaib and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN-05) had planned to visit Israel but were barred from doing so by the Israeli government because of their anti-Israel sentiments.

“Israeli law prohibits the entry into Israel of those who call for and work to impose boycotts on Israel, as do other democracies that prohibit the entry of people who seek to harm the country,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a tweet on Thursday. “Only a few days ago, we received their itinerary for their visit in Israel, which revealed that they planned a visit whose sole objective is to strengthen the boycott against us and deny Israel’s legitimacy.”

with one exception: Israeli law prohibits the entry into Israel of those who call for and work to impose boycotts on Israel, as do other democracies that prohibit the entry of people who seek to harm the country.

— PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) August 15, 2019

Only a few days ago, we received their itinerary for their visit in Israel, which revealed that they planned a visit whose sole objective is to strengthen the boycott against us and deny Israel’s legitimacy.

— PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) August 15, 2019

Omar said the goal of the trip was to “witness firsthand what is happening on the ground in Palestine.”

Let’s be clear: the goal of our trip was to witness firsthand what is happening on the ground in Palestine and hear from stakeholders —our job as Members of Congress.

But since we were unable to fulfill our role as legislators, I am sharing what we would have seen. (THREAD)

— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) August 16, 2019

Tlaib submitted a letter on Thursday to Israel requesting to visit her grandmother, who lives in the West Bank.

“I will respect any restrictions and will not promote boycotts against Israel during my visit,” Tlaib wrote.

Breaking: Israel’s interior minister just approved @RashidaTlaib’s petition to enter Israel 'on humanitarian grounds' to visit her Palestinian grandmother @ the West Bank. She had to promise not to promote #BDS during the visit https://t.co/e8K2ZgtOUQ pic.twitter.com/q9ULe25xX2

— Noa Landau נעה לנדאו (@noa_landau) August 16, 2019

Israel granted the request, under the condition Tlaib not promote boycotts against Israel while in the country. Tlaib announced yesterday her decision to not visit Palestine or Israel, calling the conditions “oppressive.”

“The Israeli government used my love and desire to see my grandmother to silence me and made my ability to do so contingent upon my signing a letter – reflecting just how undemocratic and afraid they are of the truth my trip would reveal about what is happening in the State of Israel and to Palestinians living under occupation with United States support,” Tlaib said in a statement.

“Visiting my grandmother under these oppressive conditions meant to humiliate me would break my grandmother’s heart. Silencing me with treatment to make me feel less-than is not what she wants for me – it would kill a piece of me that always stands up against racism and injustice.”

Tlaib said that many Palestinians “felt a sense of hope” upon her election to Congress.

“Racism and the politics of hate is thriving in Israel and the American people should fear what this will mean for the relationship between our two nations,” Tlaib said. “If you truly believe in democracy, then the close alignment of Netanyahu with Trump’s hate agenda must prompt a re-evaluation of our unwavering support for the State of Israel.”

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Jordyn Pair is a reporter with Battleground State News and The Michigan Star. Follow her on Twitter at @JordynPair. Email her at [email protected]
Photo “Rashida Tlaib” by Rashida Tlaib.