Page 8 - ARUBA TODAY

A8 WORLD NEWS
Friday 16 august 2019
Continued from Front entry and exit points to the
The two newly-elected West Bank, which it seized
Muslim members of Con- along with east Jerusalem
gress are outspoken crit- and the Gaza Strip in the
ics of Israel's treatment of 1967 Mideast war. The Pal-
the Palestinians and have estinians seek these territo-
repeatedly sparred with ries for their future state.
Trump over a range of is- MIFTAH, the Palestinian or-
sues. Tlaib's family immi- ganization that was set to
grated to the United States host Tlaib and Omar in the
from the West Bank, where West Bank, issued a state-
she still has close relatives. ment saying that Israel's
They had planned to visit decision was "an affront to
Jerusalem and the West the American people and
Bank on a tour organized their representatives" and
by a Palestinian organiza- "an assault on the Palestin-
tion aimed at highlighting ian people's right to reach
the plight of the Palestin- out to decision-makers and
ians. It was not immediately other actors from around
clear if they had planned the world."
to meet with Israeli officials, The move could further
and spokespeople for the sharpen divisions among
two congresswomen did In this Feb. 5, 2019 file photo, Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., left, joined at right by Rep. Rashida Tlaib, Democrats over Israel
not immediately respond D-Mich., listen to President Donald Trump's State of the Union speech, at the Capitol in Washington. ahead of the 2020 elec-
to a request for comment. Associated Press tions. Republicans have
Prime Minister Benjamin Ne- amplified the views of left-
tanyahu said Israel is "open legitimacy." Islamophobes like Don- Israel has sought to com- wing Democrats like Tlaib
to critics and criticism," ex- Omar denounced the de- ald Trump," Omar said in a bat the BDS movement, and Omar to present the
cept for those who advo- cision as "an affront" and statement. which advocates boycotts, party as deeply divided
cate boycotts against it. "an insult to democratic Shortly before the decision divestment and sanctions and at odds with Israel.
"Congresswomen Tlaib and values." was announced, Trump against Israeli businesses, Democratic leaders have
Omar are leading activists "This is not a surprise giv- had tweeted that "it would universities and cultural pushed back, reiterating
in promoting the legislation en the public positions of show great weakness" if institutions. The country the party's strong support
of boycotts against Israel in Prime Minister Netanyahu, Israel allowed them to passed a law permitting a for Israel, in part to protect
the American Congress," who has consistently resist- visit. "They hate Israel & all ban on entry to any activist representatives from more
Netanyahu charged. He ed peace efforts, restricted Jewish people, & there is who "knowingly issues a call conservative districts.
said their itinerary "re- the freedom of movement nothing that can be said for boycotting Israel." In July, the Democratic-led
vealed that they planned of Palestinians, limited pub- or done to change their Last month, Israeli ambas- House of Representatives
a visit whose sole objective lic knowledge of the brutal minds." He went on to call sador to the U.S. Ron Derm- voted overwhelmingly in
is to strengthen the boycott realities of the occupation the two congresswomen "a er had said Israel would not favor of a resolution against
against us and deny Israel's and aligned himself with disgrace." deny entry to any member the BDS movement.
The U.S. ambassador to Is- of Congress. Tlaib and Omar have also
rael, David Friedman, en- The interior ministry said in been the target of repeat-
dorsed the decision after statement Thursday that ed attacks by President
it was made, saying Israel "the state of Israel respects Donald Trump in recent
"has every right to protect the American Congress, in months, including a series
its borders" against promot- the framework of the close of racist tweets on July 14 in
ers of boycotts "in the same alliance between the two which he said they should
manner as it would bar en- countries, but it's unaccept- "go back" to the "bro-
trants with more conven- able to allow the entrance ken" countries they came
tional weapons." to the country of those who from. Both are U.S. citizens
Trump's decision to urge a wish to harm the state of Is- and Tlaib was born in the
foreign country to deny en- rael, especially during their United States. The two are
try to elected U.S. officials visit." members of the so-called
was a striking departure Israel said it would consider "Squad" of newly-elected
from the long-held prac- any request from Tlaib to left-wing Democrats, along
tice of politicians from both visit relatives on humanitar- with Pressley and Rep. Al-
parties of leaving their dis- ian grounds. exandria Ocasio-Cortez of
putes at the water's edge. Supporters of the boycott New York.
Democratic lawmakers movement say it is a non- Dan Shapiro, U.S. ambassa-
in the U.S. Congress de- violent way to protest Israeli dor to Israel under President
nounced Israel's decision. policies and call for Pales- Barack Obama, said that
Top ranking Senate Demo- tinian rights. Critics say the he knew of "no such prec-
crat Chuck Schumer of boycott movement aims edent" for Israel barring an
New York said it was a to delegitimize Israel and elected American official
sign of weakness instead ultimately erase it from the from entering the country,
of strength and "will only map, replacing it with a bi- calling the decision "short-
hurt the U.S.-Israeli relation- national state. sighted."
ship and support for Israel Israel often hosts delega- "There's no reason to pre-
in America." A close fresh- tions of U.S. representatives vent members of Congress,
man colleague of the two and senators, who usually including critical ones, from
lawmakers, Ayanna Press- meet with senior Israeli of- coming, seeing and learn-
ley of Massachusetts, said ficials as well as Palestinian ing, offering them every
Israel's move is "bigoted, officials in the occupied possible briefing," Shapiro
short sighted and cruel." West Bank. Israel controls said. q