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Report: Trump wants Israel to ban Omar and Tlaib over BDS

According to unnamed sources quoted in the Israeli media, the U.S. president wants Israel to use its anti-boycott law to keep the congresswomen out of the Jewish State.

By World Israel News Staff and JNS

In response to announcements that two outspoken critics of Israel in the U.S. Congress, Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, are preparing to visit the Jewish state this month, President Donald Trump reportedly expressed dismay that Israel was planning to permit them entry.

According to a Channel 13 report, Trump was upset that Israel was opting not to invoke a law that permits the government to block supporters of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, such as Omar and Tlaib, from entering Israel.

The Channel 13 report claimed that Trump maintained if Omar and Tlaib promote boycotts of Israel then “Israel should boycott them,” quoting unnamed sources with knowledge of the matter.

Trump’s purported boycott reference pertained to reports that Israeli politicians had considered banning Omar and Tlaib, but walked back the strategy after Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Ron Dermer announced last month, “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.”

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In response to reports that Trump advocates an Israeli ban on Omar and Tlaib, White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham commented, “The Israeli government can do what they want,” referring to the story as “fake news” in a statement quoted by Axios.

Regarding the Channel 13 report, House Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who is currently visiting Israel, commented, “I do not know of the president being disappointed. I speak to the president daily. He knows there are people who have differences of opinion.”