In response to the Israeli government’s decision to prevent Representatives Tlaib and Omar from entering the country, Democratic Majority for Israel Co-Chair Ann Lewis, and President and CEO Mark Mellman, issued the following statement:
“While we disagree strongly with the anti-Israel, and in some instances antisemitic, views articulated by Congresswomen Tlaib and Omar, and while we were disturbed to learn that their planned itinerary was completely unbalanced, there is simply no excuse for any country, including Israel, to prevent travel by elected officials of the United States. Unfortunately, the Government of Israel was both wrong and unwise to reverse their earlier decision to allow these elected Members of Congress to visit the country.
“Though we are deeply disappointed by the government’s overall decision, Israel is doing the right thing by allowing Congresswoman Tlaib to visit her grandmother on humanitarian grounds.
“Democratic Majority for Israel communicated our strong views on admitting these members of Congress to the Israeli government repeatedly over several months. We also wrote to Congresswomen Tlaib and Omar twice, urging them to meet with a range of individuals and groups to hear a variety of perspectives in Israel, instead of settling for a one-sided viewpoint on their trip. We offered to meet with them or their staffs confidentially to discuss what a balanced itinerary might look like. We did not even receive the courtesy of a response from either of their offices.”
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