Rep. Rashida Tlaib has decided not to go to Israel because of “oppressive conditions” after being approved by the Israli government to visit her grandmother.
Tlaib of Michigan sent a letter asking to be allowed to enter Israel on the premise that she promised not to promote boycotts against the country, according to the interior ministry. The letter also read that Tlaib would respect any restrictions imposed during her visit. The letter comes after Tlaib was banned from entering the country.
After requesting to be allowed to visit her grandmother, Tlaib walked back the request and tweeted Friday morning that she would not visit Israel, as it would “kill a piece” of her.
Israeli Interior Minister Aryeh Deri tweeted Friday in response to Tlaib’s attack on Israel, writing that “apparently her [Tlaib’s] hate for Israel overcomes her love for her grandmother.”
Deri explained that the letter Tlaib sent Thursday included a part where she said “it might be my last chance to meet” her grandmother.
“The Israeli government used my love and desire to see my grandmother to silence me and made my ability to do so contingent upon my signing a letter – reflecting just how undemocratic and afraid they are of the truth my trip would reveal about what is happening in the State of Israel and to Palestinians living under occupation with United States support,” Tlaib said in a statement, according to NBC News.
Tlaib planned to pick from fig trees with her grandmother, NBC News reported. She was also planning on having discussions regarding Israel’s policies with Israelis and Palestinians.
Israel originally said Thursday that it wouldn’t allow Tlaib or Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar to enter the country. Israel barred the two from visiting because of fears they were trying to “boycott and negate Israel’s legitimacy.”
Shortly before Israel announced the ban, President Donald Trump tweeted Thursday that Israel would “show great weakness” if they allowed the two lawmakers to enter the country.
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org
The House of Representatives passed a war powers resolution Wednesday to rein in President Donald…
With the dust all but settling from the hard-fought redistricting war between Republicans and Democrats,…
It turns out that the most generous funder of white supremacist groups in the United…
Most teachers are concerned about their students’ education amid the looming artificial intelligence revolution, a…