Sen. Susan Collins: Israel should allow Omar, Tlaib to visit

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said Thursday that Israel should allow Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) to visit the country after the Israeli government announced they would be barred.

Collins also criticized the Trump administration after it urged Israel to deny entry to the two congresswomen, who have been used as political foils by the president.

“Israel should allow U.S. Representatives Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar to visit. The Trump Administration made a mistake in urging Israel to prevent them from entering the country,” Collins tweeted.

Israel should allow U.S. Representatives Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar to visit. The Trump Administration made a mistake in urging Israel to prevent them from entering the country.

— Sen. Susan Collins (@SenatorCollins) August 15, 2019

“Instead, the Administration should have encouraged Israel to welcome the visit as an opportunity for Reps. Tlaib and Omar to learn from the Israeli people. We have to be willing to talk if we want people to change their views,” she added.

Instead, the Administration should have encouraged Israel to welcome the visit as an opportunity for Reps. Tlaib and Omar to learn from the Israeli people.

We have to be willing to talk if we want people to change their views.

— Sen. Susan Collins (@SenatorCollins) August 15, 2019

{mosads}Democrats have blasted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government over the decision, while most Republicans have been silent on the issue, with a few exceptions.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) also criticized the decision to bar the congresswomen from entering the country, arguing it played into their own criticisms of Israel.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) on Thursday announced she would not travel to Israel unless all members of Congress were allowed.

Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) tweeted that all members of Congress should be calling the decision out. 

“Any leader committed to advancing democracy would welcome with open arms two democratically elected United States Congresswomen,” she tweeted. “And every single member of Congress should be calling this out.”

Collins is up for reelection in 2020 and has become a top target for Democrats hoping to flip the Senate after she cast a decisive vote to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2018.