Israel bars Democratic Congresswomen Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib’s entry

Israel will not allow 2 Democratic congresswomen to visit the West Bank, the deputy foreign minister said on Israeli radio. President Trump had urged the country to ban the representatives in an extraordinary step to punish his political rivals.

Jerusalem Post: Israeli “Interior Minister Arye Deri has decided on Thursday not to allow pro-BDS congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (D-Michigan) and Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota) to enter Israel. The two congresswomen were expected to arrive on Friday”

The congresswomen were expected to arrive in Israel on Friday. Israeli PM Netanyahu decided several weeks ago to allow Omar and Tlaib’s visit. Trump said it would show “great weakness” if Israel allowed the visit. Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely confirmed that Israel made a decision to deny entry to Omar and Tlaib over their BDS support. — The Israel Times