After being blocked from traveling to Israel yesterday by Benjamin Netanyahu, Congresswomen Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib are taking to Twitter to express their disdain for the situation. The two Congresswomen were barred based on an Israeli law that prohibits people from visiting the country who have expressed support for the pro-Palestinian BDS, or Boycott, Divest, Sanction, considered in Israel to be an anti-Israeli movement.
From France24.com:
This follows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s declaration on Thursday that he would not allow Tlaib and her fellow Democrat congresswoman Ilhan Omar, both Democrats, to make a planned trip to the country. “As a vibrant and free democracy, Israel is open to any critic and criticism, with one exception,” he said. “Israel’s law prohibits the entry of people who call and act to boycott Israel, as is the case with other democracies that prevent the entry of people whom they see as harming the country.”
One of Tlaib’s trip plans apparently was to visit her Grandmother in the West Bank. Trending in the news today is how the Israeli Government said they would make an exception and allow her to visit her Grandmother in that area, but apparently, that isn’t good enough, and Tlaib is throwing the baby out with the bathwater. The Congresswoman who, the night she was elected said of The President of the United States: “we’re going to impeach that motherf*****” is now angry at him for another reason, as many in the media imply that President Trump’s pressure toward Netanyahu might have influenced the initial ban.
She tweeted this morning:
“Silencing me & treating me like a criminal is not what she wants for me. It would kill a piece of me. I have decided that visiting my grandmother under these oppressive conditions stands against everything I believe in–fighting against racism, oppression & injustice.”
SEE TWEET FROM @RashidaTlaib BELOW:
Silencing me & treating me like a criminal is not what she wants for me. It would kill a piece of me. I have decided that visiting my grandmother under these oppressive conditions stands against everything I believe in–fighting against racism, oppression & injustice. https://t.co/z5t5j3qk4H
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) August 16, 2019
Ilhan Omar expressed her feelings of sympathy in response:
“Sending you strength and solidarity “
SEE TWEET FROM @IlhanMN BELOW:
❤️ Sending you strength and solidarity https://t.co/IxwazwukIl
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) August 16, 2019
Most of Ilhan’s other tweets were retweets of other people supporting her or criticizing yesterday’s announcement of their travel ban, such as the tweet below:
SEE TWEET FROM @RepMcGovern BELOW:
Prime Minister @Netanyahu‘s decision to bar @RepRashida & @Ilhan from entry to Israel is unacceptable and wrong. It insults not just my colleagues, but the entire Congress of the United States.
— Rep. Jim McGovern (@RepMcGovern) August 15, 2019
MMA Fighter Tara LaRosa criticized Omar and Tlaib by tweeting out a video of two Palestinian boys attacking Israeli police.
“Two Arab Palestinian boys with large knives attack Israeli police.
This is what Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib are supporting. These are the people they are championing. These are the acts they endorse with BDS.”
SEE TWEET FROM @TaraLaRosa BELOW:
Two Arab Palestinian boys with large knives attack Israeli police.
— Tara LaRosa (@TaraLaRosa) August 16, 2019
This is what Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib are supporting. These are the people they are championing. These are the acts they endorse with BDS.
pic.twitter.com/TWKU4unntQ
“West Bank” is one of the top Twitter trends this morning and it remains to be seen if there will be broader ramification from the events of yesterday.
