STREAM EXCLUSIVE ORIGINALS

Israel Bans Reps. Ilhan Omar And Rashida Tlaib From Visiting After Trump Tweets They Hate Jewish People

Omar has responded via Twitter.

Donald Trump’s Twitter feed has once again employed its intended consequence as Minnesota Rep. Ihan Omar and Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib have both been banned from visiting Israel.

The two, along with other members of Congress, had planned on visiting the Middle Eastern country next week, however the Israeli government announced Thursday (August 15) it would bar Omar and Tlaib from entry just minutes after Trump suggested such a move via the social media app.

“It would show great weakness if Israel allowed Rep. Omar and Rep. Tlaib to visit,” Trump tweeted this morning. “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!”

  • While Rashida Tlaib has yet to respond, Ilhan Omar has fired back on Twitter, pointing out the hypocrisy of Israel banning a duly elected congressperson from entering their country.

    "It is an affront that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, under pressure from President Trump, would deny entry to representatives of the U.S. government. Trump's Muslim ban is what Israel is implementing, this time against two duly elected Members of Congress," Omar wrote.

    "The irony of the 'only democracy' in the Middle East making such a decision is that it is both an insult to democratic values and a chilling response to a visit by government officials from an allied nation," she added.

  • Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed it was the country's interior minister who decided to deny entry to Reps. Tlaib and Omar and said he supports the decision.

    "As a free and vibrant democracy, Israel is open to critics and criticism, with one exception: Israeli law prohibits the entry into Israel of those who call for and work to impose boycotts on Israel," Netanyahu said in a statement. 

    He went on to say, "Congresswomen Tlaib and Omar are leading activists in promoting the legislation of boycotts against Israel in the American Congress."

    Many legislators on both sides of the isle disagreed with the ban.

    Even AIPAC, a pro-Israeli lobbyist organization whom Omar has criticized in the past, said banning the congresswomen was not something they agree with.

  • See more of the emerging backlash below.

Latest News

Subscribe for BET Updates

Provide your email address to receive our newsletter.


By clicking Subscribe, you confirm that you have read and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge our Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers) and other information from BET and the Paramount family of companies. You understand that you can unsubscribe at any time.