President Trump has told advisers that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should prevent Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) from entering Israel, Axios reported Saturday, citing three people familiar.
The White House denied giving any such instruction to Israel and Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham told Axios, “The Israeli government can do what they want. It’s fake news.” The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.
Sources familiar told Axios that Trump has told American advisers, including senior administration officials that Omar and Tlaib should be barred due to their support for a boycott of Israel. Israeli in 2017 passed a law that prevents foreigners who support an Israeli boycott from entering the country.
The Hill has reached out to Omar and Tlaib for comment.
Ron Dermer, Israel’s ambassador to the U.S., said last month that the country wouldn’t bar the congresswomen.
“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,” he said, according to Israeli newspaper Haaretz.
The lawmakers are slated to arrive in Israeli on Aug. 18, Israeli officials told Axios, although the timing could change.
The House last month passed a resolution opposing the movement to boycott Israel. Omar and Tlaib voted against the resolution.