House Speaker Nancy Pelosi “loves Israel,” but claims it’s “beneath the dignity of the State of Israel” to ban Congresswomen Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar, who actively support plans to destroy the country.
Israel’s denial of entry to Congresswomen Tlaib & Omar is beneath the dignity of the great State of #Israel. @realDonaldTrump‘s statements about the Congresswomen are a sign of ignorance & disrespect, & beneath the dignity of the Office of the President. https://t.co/F2E0g0Wj2T
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) August 15, 2019
“As one who loves Israel, I am deeply saddened by the news that Israel has decided to prevent Members of Congress from entering the country,” Pelosi said in a prepared statement Thursday.
“Last month, Israeli Ambassador Dermer stated that, ‘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.’ This is a sad reversal and is deeply disappointing,” she wrote of Israel’s announced decision it will not permit the two to enter.
“I pray the government of Israel will reverse that denial.”
Pelosi claimed the decision, announced by Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, “is a sign of weakness, and beneath the dignity of the great State of Israel.”
She also took aim at Trump, who has repeatedly criticized the two freshman socialists and other members of a group of Justice Democrats known as “The Squad” that also includes New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Massachusetts Rep. Ayanna Pressley.
Trump tweeted that “It would show great weakness if Israel allowed Rep. Omar and Rep. Tlaib to visit. They hate Israel & all Jewish people, & there is nothing that can be said or done to change their minds.”
“The President’s statements about the Congresswomen are a sign of ignorance and disrespect, and beneath the dignity of the Office of the President,” Pelosi claimed.
Please read my attached statement with regard to the decision of the Government of Israel to deny entry to BDS activists, Congresswomen Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, in accordance with its national laws. pic.twitter.com/q9M2N1uRkr
— David M. Friedman (@USAmbIsrael) August 15, 2019
The kerfuffle isn’t the first time Pelosi’s anti-Semitic colleagues have forced her to choose between her alleged love for Israel and her allegiance to the Democratic Party, but so far the result has been the same.
When Omar earned criticism for repeating Jewish stereotypes and referring to the September 11 terrorist attacks as “some people did something,” Pelosi stood by her side and promised there’s “no taint” of anti-Semitism in the Democrat Party, the Times of Israel reports.
“I don’t think the congresswoman in anti-Semeitic,” she said. “I wouldn’t even put those in the same category.”
Months later, just days after The Squad commander AOC accused Pelosi of racism in committee assignments and party leadership, Trump highlighted the group’s anti-American, anti-Israel rhetoric, and wild accusations of racism against Pelosi.
Again, Pelosi pushed back and alleged Trump is racist for urging The Squad to “go back” to their home countries and fix the rampant crime and corruption there if they don’t like America.
Omar is a refugee from Somalia, while Tlaib is from Palestine.
Pelosi’s support for Omar and Tlaib and condemnation for Israel’s decision to keep them out comes despite the duo’s outspoken support for the Boycott, Sanctions and Divestment movement aimed at choking Israel’s economy to death.
That campaign, along with ties to terrorist organizations focused on destroying Israel, were the two major reasons government officials cited for the ban.
“Only a few days ago, we received their itinerary for their visit in Israel, which revealed that they planned a visit whose sole objective is to strengthen the boycott against us and deny Israel’s legitimacy,” Netanyahu said in a statement.
“For instance: they listed the destination of their trip as Palestine and not Israel, and unlike all Democratic and Republican members of Congress who have visited Israel, they did not request to meet any Israeli officials, either from the government or the opposition.”
“In addition, the organization that is funding their trip is Miftah, which is an avid supporter of BDS, and among whose members are those who have expressed support for terrorism against Israel,” he said.
Ironically, Tlaib sent a letter to Israel’s Interior Minister Aryeh Deri pleading for permission to visit her 90-year-old grandmother because “it might be my last chance,” and Deri approved the humanitarian request, only to watch Tlaib reject the offer on Twitter to grandstand against the country’s “oppressive and racist policies.”
When I won, it gave the Palestinian people hope that someone will finally speak the truth about the inhumane conditions. I can’t allow the State of Israel to take away that light by humiliating me & use my love for my sity to bow down to their oppressive & racist policies. https://t.co/OYIwExV0ga
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) August 16, 2019
“When I won, it gave the Palestinian people hope that someone will finally speak the truth about inhumane conditions. I can’t allow the State of Israel to take away that light by humiliating me & use my love for my sity (grandmother) to bow down to their oppressive & racist policies,” she posted.
Deri responded to put the stunt in proper context.
I approved her request as a gesture of goodwill on a humanitarian basis, but it was just a provocative request, aimed at bashing the State of Israel. Apparently her hate for Israel overcomes her love for her grandmother.@realDonaldTrump @RashidaTlaib
— אריה מכלוף דרעי (@ariyederi) August 16, 2019
“Rep. Tlaib just tweeted that she won’t be coming to Israel. Just yesterday she sent me a letter, asking to visit her 90 year old grandmother, saying ‘it might be my last chance to meet her,’” Deri posted.
“I approved her request as a gesture of goodwill on a humanitarian basis, but it was just a provocative request aimed at bashing the State of Israel,” he wrote. “Apparently her hate for Israel overcomes her love for her grandmother.”
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