Israel won’t deny entry to Omar, Tlaib

Israel will not deny entry to Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), the country’s ambassador to the U.S. said Friday.

“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,” said Ambassador Ron Dermer, according to Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

{mosads}The paper reported that the two lawmakers’ support for boycotts of Israel and its West Bank settlements could have been used under Israeli law to deny them entry.

Dermer’s remarks follow uncertainty as to whether Omar and Tlaib would be permitted to enter the country during their planned trip to Israel and the West Bank.

The Hill has reached out to Omar and Tlaib for comment.

Omar this week introduced a House resolution “affirming that all Americans have the right to participate in boycotts in pursuit of civil and human rights at home and abroad, as protected by the First Amendment.”  The resolution, which does not specifically mention Israel, was co-sponsored by Tlaib.