McSally Backs Trump, Israel’s Ban On American Congresswomen

By Scott Bourque
Published: Friday, August 16, 2019 - 10:53am
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mcsally.house.gov
Martha McSally

Sen. Martha McSally has come out in support of the Israeli government’s decision to bar two American representatives from entering the country. 

McSally said Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) espoused dangerous anti-Semitic and anti-Israel rhetoric that justified the travel ban. 

"Their actions and their words have been dangerous," she said. "Their anti-Semitism, their support to the BDS (boycott, divestment, sanction) movement, they personally lead an effort to ensure the House of Representatives couldn't pass a bill to condemn anti-Semitism."

Originally, Israel was planning to allow the two congresswomen to enter for an official visit. President Donald Trump tweeted about the issue, encouraging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to block their entry. 

“It would show great weakness if Israel allowed Rep. Omar and Rep. Tlaib to visit,” he said in the tweet. “They hate Israel & all Jewish people, & there is nothing that can be said or done to change their minds.”

The Israeli government has legal basis to ban the two congresswomen under a law that prohibits entry to people who call for boycotts of the Israeli state. 

Although Trump and McSally have come out against the two congresswomen, many Republicans are beginning to voice their support for Omar and Tlaib.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) tweeted “Denying them entry into #Israel is a mistake. Being blocked is what they really hoped for all along in order to bolster their attacks against the Jewish state.”

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