Trump and Netanyahu and Omar and Tlaib

It did not begin with Trump's Tweet: "It would show great weakness if Israel allowed Rep. Omar and Rep. Tlaib to visit. They hate Israel & all Jewish people, & there is nothing that can be said or done to change their minds." It began earlier this month when House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer accompanied 40 other Democratic members of Congress to Israel. These Congress members were able to meet with Netanyahu, opposition leader Benny Gantz, and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. That trip was sponsored by the American Israel Education Foundation, which is an affiliate of AIPAC (the American Israel Public Affairs Committee), a pro-Israel lobbying group. As AIPAC seeks bipartisan support in Congress for Israel, and as they believe in a two-state solution, there was neither a desire nor attempt to prevent the Congress members from meeting with Palestinians. Nevertheless, left-wing groups pressured these Democrats not to go.

Notably absent from that trip were Rep. Rashida Tlaib and Rep. Ilhan Omar. Rather, they planned their own trip to "Palestine." Not surprisingly, Israel was not on their itinerary. Their trip was sponsored by Miftah, a Palestinian NGO that not only supports the BDS (Boycott, Divest and Sanction) movement against Israel, but has also praised Palestinian suicide/homicide bombers that blow up innocent Jews. The two had not planned to meet with any Israeli leaders, not even Arab members of the Knesset, Israel's parliament. Omar disputes that, although their itinerary does not show any such meetings.

We know that Rashid, a Palestinian-American, does not believe that Israel has a right to exist, and certainly not as a Jewish state. She has frequently stated her desire to see a one-state solution, and in various ways has made it clear that the one state would be Palestine. In an interview with CNN's Jake Tapper, Tlaib was given an opportunity to recognize Israel's right to exist. Tapper: "Do you think the Jewish people have the right to a state in the area where Israel exists now?" Tlaib: "Look, I truly believe the State of Israel exists, correct..." What? It is easy to say she believes Israel exists as it does exist. She did not acknowledge that Israel has a right to exist. She continued: "...but understand, does it (Israel) exist in the detriment of inequality for the Palestinian people." Hence, her belief in a one-state solution called Palestine.

Last month, Israeli Ambassador to the US, Ron Dermer, said the two extremist members of Congress would be allowed to go on their trip "out of respect for the US Congress and the great alliance between Israel and America." In 2017, Israel enacted a law that allows the government to deny entry to those who wish to harm the country, such as through boycotts. But no doubt that Trump's Tweet put Israeli PM Netanyahu in the awkward position of being in the middle of Trump and two members of the "Squad."

After Tlaib complained that this trip might be her last chance to see her 90 year-old grandmother, and after Tlaib agreed not to pursue BDS attacks on Israel while there, Israel relented. But shortly thereafter Tlaib decided against the trip, complaining of the "oppressive" conditions set out by Israel, and because it would "break my grandmother's heart." If I were a betting man, I would bet on Tlaib having been pressured by the Palestinians to not agree to Israel's terms. Israel's Interior Minister, Aryeh Deri, then said this: "I approved her request as a gesture of goodwill on a humanitarian basis, but it was just a provocative request, aimed at bashing the State of Israel. Apparently her hate for Israel overcomes her love for her grandmother." Which brings to mind a saying often attributed to Golda Meir, Israel's Prime Minister from March, 1969 to June, 1974. "Peace will come when the Arabs will love their children more than they hate us." Nothing much has changed in that regard since the founding of the State of Israel in 1948, and even earlier.

There are at least two issues here. One, was it proper for the President of the United States to suggest to a foreign country that two duly elected members of Congress not be allowed entry? It always helps to imagine a slightly different scenario. Imagine that these two Congress members were anti-Semitic white nationalists who claimed Israel controlled the world. Or, what if the two Congress members were Jewish extremists who argued for the extermination of the Arabs. Sooner or later, you will find a scenario where an increasing number of people agree that the President was right to call for a ban on such people - members of Congress or not - visiting Israel.

Of course, the second issue is whether or not Israel should have caved (likely they did) to the President's Tweet. Certainly, Israel is not the first country to bar an elected official from entering. Just one example: Dutch Parliament member Geert Wilders was barred from entering the UK. Wilders has been outspoken in his concern over the "Islamization" of The Netherlands. But the British Home Office labeled Wilders an "undesirable person," adding "the Government opposes extremism in all its forms." Just one example of a democratic country denying entry to an elected official they deemed to be an extremist. Are Rashid and Omar extremists? No doubt. But Israel had to anticipate the significant blow back that they are now getting from the Democrats in Congress. All appropriation measures originate in the House. Israel is a recipient of US foreign aid. It is also true that Israel is a great ally to the US - technologically, in terms of providing intelligence on the Middle East and in other ways.

Not surprisingly, the mainstream media has condemned Israel for their decision. I could make the argument either way, but my preference was that Israel allow the visit. Now, these two Israel-haters are likely to get increasing support within their party.