Trump heat ignites Israel ‘Squad’ ban
Donald Trump has launched a fresh attack on two minority Democrat congresswomen after Israel banned them from visiting.
Israel announced it would not allow Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib — two members of “The Squad” — to enter Israel, only hours after the US President urged Israel not to let them in.
“Representatives Omar and Tlaib are the face of the Democrat party and they HATE Israel,” Mr Trump tweeted.
Earlier, before Israel’s move, he tweeted that “It would show great weakness if Israel allowed Rep Omar and rep Tlaib to visit. They hate Israel and all Jewish people and there is nothing that can be said or done to change their minds. They are a disgrace.”
Ms Omar and Ms Tlaib have been outspoken critics of Israel and supported the boycott, divestment and sanctions directed at Israeli goods and services to protest the treatment of Palestinians.
Mr Trump has labelled them anti-Semitic and has attacked them repeatedly, believing the attacks will be welcomed by his supporters.
Israel was not expected to block their forthcoming visit to Jerusalem and the West Bank, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu changed his mind under pressure from Mr Trump and said there were limits on who Israel would allow into the country.
“As a vibrant and free democracy, Israel is open to all its critics and criticism, with one exception: Israeli law prohibits the entry of people who call and operate to boycott Israel,” he said.
Mr Netanyahu said their itinerary “revealed that they planned a visit whose sole objective is to strengthen the boycott against us and deny Israel’s legitimacy”.
Ms Omar and Ms Tlaib say their differences with Israel are based on policy issues rather than any dislike of Jews or Israelis.
Ms Omar, a Somali-born Muslim, attacked Mr Netanyahu’s decision saying he had “consistently resisted peace efforts, restricted the freedom of movement of Palestinians, limited public knowledge of the brutal realities of the occupation and aligned himself with Islamophobes like Donald Trump”.
Ms Omar said it was “an affront that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, under pressure from President Trump, would deny entry to representatives of the US government”. She accused Israel of implementing “Trump’s Muslim ban” against ‘two duly elected members of congress”.
New York representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a member of The Squad, tweeted that Mr Netanyahu’s “discriminatory decision” to ban members of congress from Israel “harms” diplomacy. She said she would not visit Israel “until all members of congress are allowed”.
Israel’s decision angered Democrat leaders, with House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi calling it “deeply disappointing”, while house majority leader Steny Hoyer said it was “outrageous”.
Democrat presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren described the ban as a “shameful, unprecedented move”, while fellow contender Bernie Sanders said it was a “sign of enormous disrespect to these elected leaders”.
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee broke with Israel, saying it did not support the ban on the two congresswomen.
“We disagree with rep Omar and Tlaib’s support for the anti-Israel and anti-peace BDS movement, along with rep Tlaib’s calls for a one-state solution. We also believe every member of congress should be able to visit and experience our democratic ally, Israel, first-hand,” the AIPAC said. Senator Marco Rubio, who ran against Mr Trump for the Republican nomination, criticised Israel’s decision, saying it would be counterproductive. “Denying them entry into #Israel is a mistake,” he tweeted. “Being blocked is what they really hoped for all along in order to bolster their attacks against the Jewish state.”
The congresswomen were due to meet with Israeli and Palestinian civil society groups, humanitarian workers and a hospital in East Jerusalem.
Cameron Stewart is also UN contributor for Sky News Australia
Vatican recounts Pope Francis’ final hours
The first so-called 'general congregation' following Francis's death, which signals the start of a centuries-old tradition, has determined that public viewing of the pontiff will begin on Wednesday in St Peter's Basilica ahead of Saturday's funeral.
‘This will be our great era’: Trump celebrates victories, promises more
Donald Trump has celebrated his victories in the economy, border controls and health reforms and vowed to end the war in Ukraine but did not outline his plan on bringing peace between Moscow and Kyiv | WATCH
Donald Trump has launched a fresh attack on two minority Democrat congresswomen after Israel banned them from visiting in a move that has ignited fury among Democrats.