Prime Minister Netanyahu pressured by President Trump

Submitted by Darlene Casella, Aug 17, 2019 at 12:03

Dr. Pipes deserves profound appreciation and respect for all that he has accomplished, and continues to effectuate, with the Middle East Forum.

This article gives the impression that Prime Minister Netanyahu kowtowed to pressure from President Trump in this matter. Last month Ambassador to Israel, Ron Dermer said that Ilhan Oman and Rashida Tlaib would not be prevented from visiting Israel. Aryeh Deri, the Minister of the Interior of the State of Israel; not the Israeli Ambassador, is in charge of implementing the laws of Israel which specify the conditions for entering Israel.

Minister Deri takes a hardline position on letting backers of Boycott, Divestment, and Sanction (BDS) movement into the country. Oman and Tlaib are backers of the BDS movement. A 2017 Israel law, prohibits from entering the country any foreigner who "knowingly issues a public call for boycotting Israel." Visas have been denied to students, activists, artists, and others.

Stephanie Grisham, White House Press Secretary, denies that Trump gave any kind of directive to the Israelis. "The Israeli government can do what they want. It's fake news."

Eventually Israel said they would grant Tlaib a "humanitarian" entrance to visit her grandmother in the West Bank, if she would not participate in any BDS protests or anti-Israel demonstrations. She declined the offer.

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".