Israel denying entrance to US Muslim lawmakers invites flak

Israels decision to bar two Muslim members of the US Congress from entering the country has drawn strikingly sharp criticism from several allies to the Jewish state including top Democratic lawmakers presidential hopefuls and influential proIsrael lobby AIPACThe American Israel Public Affairs Committee widely supported by Democrats and Republicans alike in Washington led a collection of proIsrael groups in denouncing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus block of the antiTrump lawmakers visit a move encouraged by President Donald Trump himselfWhile the groups members disagree with support by House Democrats Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib for a boycott on Israel AIPAC said we also believe every member of Congress should be able to visit and experience our democratically Israel firsthandMore than 70 House and Senate Democrats publicly denounced Israels rejection while Republican lawmakers were largely silent following the announcementSenate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer a staunch Israel ally on Capitol Hill called the decision a sign of weakness that will only hurt the USIsraeli relationship and support for Israel in AmericaHouse Speaker Nancy Pelosi herself has clashed with Omar and Tlaib who have been accused of antiSemitic and antiIsrael statementsBut Pelosi the top Democrat in Congress called the travel ban beneath the dignity of the great State of IsraelAlso readGolan Heights is now Ramat TrumpIsrael scrapped the visit shortly after Trump weighed in via Twitter to say it would be showing great weakness if the Jewish state allowed the lawmakers in leading to suspicion that Netanyahu acted only after receiving ally Trumps imprimaturThat notion was reinforced by Israels exambassador to Washington Danny Ayalon who tweeted that his government had rightfully decided to accept that recommendation from TrumpOmar a Somali refugee and Tlaib born in Detroit to Palestinian immigrants have faced censure from colleagues in CongressThe House of Representatives voted to condemn antiSemitism in March after a series of Omar remarks that were criticized as offensive to Israel and JewsBut colleagues rushed to their defense on Thursday angrily opposing the Israeli ban that Omar herself described as chilling Several lawmakers expressed alarm at Trumps deviation from traditional diplomatic protocol saying his interference will only drive a wedge between the longstanding allies and undermine the bipartisan basis for congressional supportThe Trump Administration made a mistake in urging Israel to prevent them from entering the country said Senator Susan Collins one of the only Republican lawmakers to openly break with Trump over the incidentAlso ReadIsrael PMs wife convicted of misusing public fundsSeveral Democratic presidential candidates piled on including frontrunner Joe Biden attacking Netanyahus decision and Trumps public meddling in a sovereign nations affairsTrump himself insisted it was Israels callWhat theyve said is disgraceful so I cant imagine why Israel would let them in Trump told reporters of the lawmakers But if they want to let them in they canWhile most Republicans laid low some support for Netanyahus move and Trumps intervention trickled outCongressman Mo Brooks tweeted that Omar and Tlaib hate want to hurt maybe even destroy the Jewish stateIsrael bars enemies from entering Israel the Alabama Republican added How can anyone disagree with thatCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updatesThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever