Israel has decided to block a visit by Detroit Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely said on Thursday.
“The decision has been made, the decision is not to allow them to enter,” Hotovely told Israel’s Reshet Radio, according to Reuters.
Israel decided to ban the freshman lawmakers in response to their support for the pro-Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, Huffington Post reports. Israeli law allows the country to ban supporters of the movement from entering the country.
Interestingly, last month, Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Ron Dermer, said Omar and Tlaib would be allowed to visit.
“Out of respect for the U.S. Congress and the great alliance between Israel and America, we would not deny entry to any member of Congress into Israel,” he said.
