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A8 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 17 auguSt 2019
Tlaib declines to visit West Bank, citing Israeli conditions

Associated Press longtime U.S. ally to punish
JERUSALEM (AP) — Demo- his domestic rivals was a
cratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib glaring departure from the
said Friday she would not tradition of American politi-
visit her grandmother in cians leaving such disputes
the occupied West Bank, at the water's edge.
despite being granted an Israel announced the
Israeli permit on humanitar- ban Thursday after Trump
ian grounds, saying Israel's tweeted that "it would
"oppressive" conditions show great weakness" if the
aimed to humiliate her. two were allowed to visit.
Israel barred Tlaib and an- Asked later if he had spo-
other Democrat, Rep. Ilhan ken to Prime Minister Ben-
Omar, from visiting Jeru- jamin Netanyahu, he said,
salem and the West Bank "I did talk to people over
over their support for the in- there," without elaborating.
ternational boycott move- In a tweet, Omar disputed
ment following an unprec- Netanyahu's claim that
edented appeal from Presi- she and Tlaib didn't ask to
dent Donald Trump to deny meet with Israeli govern-
them entry. ment or opposition officials.
Israel had said Tlaib could She said they planned to
visit relatives in the West meet with Jewish and Arab
Bank on humanitarian members of the Israeli par-
grounds. But then the Inte- liament plus other Israeli of-
rior Ministry released a letter ficials.
purportedly signed by Tlaib For Israel, the willingness to
in which she promised not side so pointedly with Trump
to advocate boycotts dur- marks a deeper foray into
ing her visit. That appears America's bitterly polarized
to have led to her decision U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., listens to a question from a constituent in Wixom, Mich., Thursday, politics and risks its relation-
to cancel the visit. Aug. 15, 2019. ship with Congress.
"Visiting my grandmother Associated Press Netanyahu's embrace of
under these oppressive Trump has yielded major
conditions meant to hu- Deri announced early Fri- wrote. Israel's decision to do so — gains for the Israeli right,
miliate me would break day that Tlaib had request- Bassam Tlaib, an uncle who were unprecedented and including the U.S. decision
my grandmother's heart," ed and been granted per- lives in the West Bank, ex- drew widespread criticism, to recognize Jerusalem as
she said in a statement. "Si- mission to enter the West pressed support for her de- including from many Israelis Israel's capital. Trump's ac-
lencing me with treatment Bank to see relatives. The cision. as well as staunch support- ceptance of Israel's annex-
to make me feel less-than U.S.-born Tlaib's family immi- "If Rashida's visit to her ers of Israel in Congress. ation of the Golan Heights,
is not what she wants for grated from the West Bank. homeland is under condi- Critics said it risked turning which it seized from Syria in
me — it would kill a piece Deri's office released what tions, we reject that," he Israel into a partisan issue the 1967 war, provided a
of me that always stands it said was Tlaib's request, said. "It's Rashida's right as and threatened to under- boost to Netanyahu ahead
up against racism and in- written on congressional a Palestinian to come and mine ties between the of April's elections.
justice." stationery and dated Thurs- visit her family and coun- close allies. Netanyahu might be hop-
Tlaib and Omar had day, in which she said she try." Tlaib and Omar are known ing for a similar jolt ahead
planned to visit Jerusalem wanted to visit her grand- Some Palestinians had ex- as supporters of "boycott, of next month's polls, which
and the Israeli-occupied mother, who is in her 90s. pressed disappointment divestment and sanctions," were called after he failed
West Bank next week on a "This could be my last op- with the letter. Ali Abun- or BDS, a Palestinian-led to form a coalition govern-
tour organized by a Pales- portunity to see her. I will imah, a prominent Palestin- global movement. Sup- ment. Reactions in the Is-
tinian group. The two are respect any restrictions and ian activist, tweeted that porters say the movement raeli media to the decision
outspoken critics of Israel's will not promote boycotts Tlaib should have used her is a nonviolent way of pro- to bar the congresswomen
treatment of the Palestin- against Israel during my platform to highlight Isra- testing Israel's military rule were split, with Netanyahu's
ians and support the Pal- visit," she said. Tlaib's office el's restrictions "instead of over the occupied territo- opponents accusing him of
estinian-led international could not immediately be writing that humiliating let- ries, but Israel says it aims to kowtowing to a divisive U.S.
movement boycotting Is- reached for comment on ter asking the occupier to delegitimize the state and president and endanger-
rael. the letter's authenticity. treat her as an exception in eventually wipe it off the ing bilateral relations and
The two newly elected Mus- Shortly after the announce- exchange for abiding by its map. supporters saying he had
lim members of Congress ment, Tlaib tweeted that 'restrictions.'" The two congresswomen no choice but to fully back
have sparred with Trump, she wouldn't allow Israel to Deri, the interior minister, are part of the "squad" of an important ally in the
who tweeted before the use her love for her grand- said after the cancellation liberal newcomers — all White House.
decision that it would be a mother to force her to "bow that her initial request was women of color — whom "Just like Trump's base in
"show of weakness" to al- down to their oppressive & apparently a "provocative Trump has labeled as the America does not like the
low them in. Israel controls racist policies." request, aimed at bashing face of the Democratic extreme left-wing elements
entry and exit to the West "When I won (in 2018), it the State of Israel." Party as he runs for re-elec- of the Democratic Party,
Bank, which it seized in the gave the Palestinian peo- "Apparently her hate for tion. He subjected them to (Netanyahu's) base in Israel
1967 Mideast war along ple hope that someone Israel overcomes her love a series of racist tweets last does not like them," said
with east Jerusalem and will finally speak the truth for her grandmother," he month in which he called Reuven Hazan, a political
the Gaza Strip — territories about the inhumane condi- tweeted. on them to "go back" to science professor at He-
the Palestinians want for a tions. I can't allow the State Trump's request to a foreign their "broken" countries. brew University. "It serves his
future state. of Israel to take away that country to bar the entry of They are U.S. citizens. base. It does not serve the
Israeli Interior Minister Aryeh light by humiliating me," she elected U.S. officials — and Trump's recruitment of a state of Israel."q