Israel had a change of heart and is now allowing Rep. Rashida Tlaib visit the nation on “humanitarian grounds.”
The news was announced on Friday, the day after both Rep. Tlaib and Rep. Ilhan Omar, vocal opponents of Israel, were banned from visiting the country.
Israel had told Tlaib, as well as fellow Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., on Thursday they would not be allowed to visit the country due to their outspoken support for the “boycott, sanctions and divestment” movement.
Both women are Muslim and vocal supporters of the Palestinians. Israeli officials said they would only be able to visit if willing to pledge they would do so as “humanitarians” and not speak out against Israel.
Tlaib, a Palestinian-American, sent a letter to government officials late Thursday, which was approved Friday, the Israeli Interior Ministry said in a statement.
“Interior Minister Aryeh Deri decided on Friday to approve the entry of US Congresswoman Rashida Talib on a humanitarian visit of her 90-year-old grandmother,” a statement from Israel said.
“Congresswoman Talib sent a letter to Minister Deri tonight pledging to accept Israel’s demands, respecting the restrictions imposed on her during the visit, and promising not to promote boycotts against Israel during her visit.
“In light of this, and in accordance with his commitment yesterday, Minister Deri decided to allow her entry into Israel and expressed hope that her commitment and visit would indeed be for humanitarian purposes only,” it said.
The decision to allow Rep. Tlaib to visit her grandmother does not affect the status of Rep. Omar who is still banned.
But when Israel said it would allow her to come she slapped them in the face by saying she would not make the trip, Reuters reported.
U.S. Representative Rashida Tlaib on Friday said she would not visit her family in the West Bank as planned despite a reprieve by the Israeli government allowing her visit.
“Silencing me & treating me like a criminal is not what she wants for me. It would kill a piece of me. I have decided that visiting my grandmother under these oppressive conditions stands against everything I believe in – fighting against racism, oppression & injustice,” Tlaib, a Democrat representing Michigan, said in a series of tweets.
My sity wanted to pick figs w/ me. I broke down reading this & worry every single day after I won for my family's safety. My cousin was texting me which photo of @IlhanMN & I they should put on a welcoming poster when I heard the news. I couldn't tell her.https://t.co/TneIQHwDgO
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) August 16, 2019
When I won, it gave the Palestinian people hope that someone will finally speak the truth about the inhumane conditions. I can't allow the State of Israel to take away that light by humiliating me & use my love for my sity to bow down to their oppressive & racist policies. https://t.co/OYIwExV0ga
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) August 16, 2019