Netanyahu's Ban on Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib Is a Cheap Trumpian Stunt
To the surprise of absolutely nobody, the government of Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel has learned absolutely nothing from its slow-dance with Camp Runamuck in Washington, except how to be really stupid. From The Times of Israel:
Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely confirms that Israel has made a decision to deny entry to US congresswomen Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib over their BDS support. “Israel has decided—we won’t enable the members of Congress members to enter the country,” she tells the Kan public broadcaster. “We won’t allow those who deny our right to exist in this world to enter Israel. In principle this is a very justified decision.”
I'm not entirely sure, but I don't think either of these two members of Congress ever have done that. They have been critical—sometimes, harshly—of Israel's treatment of the people in the lands it has occupied. This undoubtedly bothers the Netanyahu government but it should have more important things on its mind such as, oh, I dunno, its political survival. It's got an election coming up, so I suppose this will satisfy a number of people on the Israeli right. But the reason for blocking the visit ought to be concerning to anyone who values free speech in this country. From the Washington Post:
The question about their entry status arose because of a recently passed Israeli law that denies entry visas to foreign nationals who publicly back or call for any kind of boycott — economic, cultural or academic — against Israel or its West Bank settlements. The goal of the measure is to battle the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement, which protests Israeli treatment of the Palestinians and has found growing support in Europe and the United States in recent years.
No matter what you feel about the BDS movement, it is inarguably a legitimate political movement protected by the First Amendment in the United States. And yet, there has been a bipartisan effort in this country to anathemize the movement. In July, the House voted 398-17 to condemn BDS on the grounds that, "it promotes principles of collective guilt, mass punishment and group isolation, which are destructive of prospects for progress towards peace." It is a huge deal when Congress singles out a political movement for public condemnation, and it hearkens back to the days of the various Red Scares. The vote was rushed and, as I said, distinctly bipartisan, and any Democratic MOC who voted for the resolution owns the Israeli government's actions in banning Omar and Tialib.
Israel, of course, can do anything it wants. It's a sovereign country. But this is a terrible look for what is often called the Mideast's only real democracy. Mature countries allow all visits from the officials of friendly governments. If you agree with them, you have a nice time over lunch. If you disagree, you bring them in and talk over your differences and maybe some minds get changed, or not. But this is what allies do.
This makes Netanyahu and his government look stubborn, stupid, and marginally racist. (Mark Pocan of Wisconsin voted against the anti-BDS bill, too. Think he'd be kept out?) And, if it doesn't believe me, Israel only has to look at who's supporting its actions to know what a mistake this is.
It would show great weakness if Israel allowed Rep. Omar and Rep.Tlaib to visit. They hate Israel & all Jewish people, & there is nothing that can be said or done to change their minds. Minnesota and Michigan will have a hard time putting them back in office. They are a disgrace!
For the love of god, don't listen to that guy.
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