Israel is considering barring two Democratic congresswomen -- Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar -- from an upcoming visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories because of their support for a boycott against Israel, according to an Israeli government official.
"There is a possibility that Israel will not allow the visit in its current proposed format. Professional teams and legal counsel in various government ministries are continuing to examine the decision," the government official told CNN.
The boycott movement , formally known as the Boycott, Divest, and Sanctions movement, aims to end international support for Israel because of its policies towards Palestinians, as well as its continued construction of West Bank settlements, considered a violation of international law. Tlaib and Omar have been vocal critics of Israel and have supported the boycott movement, also known as BDS, and voted against a House resolution condemning the BDS movement, which received broad bipartisan support.
Last month, Tlaib tweeted that the resolution is "unconstitutional" and aims to "silence" opposition to Israel's policies.
President Donald Trump, who has a close relationship with Netanyahu, has repeatedly attacked both Tlaib and Omar, telling them last month to "go back" to the countries they came from. Tlaib was born in the United States, and Omar was born in Somalia and is a naturalized US citizen.
Trump called for Omar's resignation in March after she suggested US support of Israel is motivated by money in remarks condemned by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle as anti-Semitic
"The proposed visit in its current format might not be allowed," the official said.
On Wednesday, the Israeli Prime Minister, interior minister, foreign minister, minister of internal security, the head of the national security council and the attorney general all met to discuss a final decision on the issue of the congresswomen's visit, the sources said, which is scheduled to take place from August 18 to 22. None of the offices would comment on what about the "current proposed format" of the trip concerned the Israeli government.
So far, there has been no public reaction from the representatives.
The Washington Post has reported that several US Democratic congressional aides familiar with the discussions are expecting a fight with the Israeli government over the issue.
Tlaib and Omar, who are the first two Muslim women elected to Congress, planned to visit one of the holiest and most sensitive sites in Jerusalem, known to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as the Temple Mount. The two lawmakers refused to be escorted by Israeli security while visiting the site, as they believe Muslims have a right to pray there, organizers in Israel and America told CNN. The two congresswomen also planned to meet with Israeli and Palestinian peace activists and representatives of human rights organizations. They were to visit Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Ramallah and Hebron. There were no plans to meet officials, organizers said.
Tlaib planned to stay two extra days to visit her grandmother, who lives in the West Bank village of Beit Ur al-Tahta.
If Tlaib, who is the first Palestinian-American woman to serve in Congress, made a humanitarian request to visit her family in the West Bank, that would be allowed, the government official said.
But that decision would be separate from the decision to bar them from entering Israel.
If Israel denies entry to the two freshmen congresswomen, it would be a reversal of a position taken last month when Israeli Ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer said the two would be allowed to visit Israel and the Palestinian territories.
"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," Dermer said at the time in widely reported comments. Dermer is considered one of those closest to Netanyahu.
Former Mayor of Jerusalem Nir Barkat, who is a member of Netanyahu's Likud Party, said he would welcome the two congresswomen into the country, but only if they would "listen and learn."
"If I would be convinced that they came to listen and learn in how this country works, how Jerusalem works, how our political system works," Barkat told Israeli news channel i24 on Tuesday, "I would consider it ... convincing people that (Israel's) path is the right path is the high road I think we should take."
Israel passed a law in March 2017 which allows the country to bar entry to anyone who supports the BDS movement. The controversial law, passed by Israel's right-wing and centrist parties, was roundly criticized by human rights organizations. If used to deny entry to Tlaib and Omar, it would be by far the most high-profile implementation of the law.
The decision of whether to bar the entry of the Congresswomen could have political considerations -- both foreign and domestic -- for Netanyahu.
In the midst of a tough re-election campaign with a fractured right-wing voter base, Netanyahu could attempt to boost his right-wing credentials by denying entry to Tlaib and Omar, who are two of the most vocal congressional critics of Israel.
This story is breaking and will be updated.
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