Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, said Reps. Rashida Tlaib, center, and Ilhan Omar, right, provided an itinerary that "revealed that they planned a visit whose sole objective is to strengthen the boycott against us and deny Israel’s legitimacy.” (Photos/Getty Images; Collage/JTA-Laura E. Adkins) News Israel AIPAC, Jewish lawmakers and others decry Israel’s ban on Tlaib and Omar Facebook Twitter Email SMS WhatsApp Share By Josefin Dolsten, JTA | August 15, 2019 This is a developing story. Israel’s decision on Thursday to ban Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar from entering the country has quickly prompted a wave of impassioned responses from across the Jewish community. Pro-Israel groups, including AIPAC, and prominent Democratic lawmakers are already objecting to the move. AIPAC’s statement, along with others from establishment Jewish groups, criticized Omar and Tlaib’s support for the movement to boycott Israel. But like others who have their differences with the two House reps, AIPAC said that Israel should nonetheless allow sitting members of the United States Congress to enter the country and see it for themselves. “We disagree with Reps. Omar and Tlaib’s support for the anti-Israel and anti-peace BDS movement, along with Rep. Tlaib’s calls for a one-state solution,” the organization tweeted, referring to the boycott Israel movement. “We also believe every member of Congress should be able to visit and experience our democratic ally Israel firsthand.” Israel announced on Thursday that the Muslim congresswomen, both Democrats, would not be allowed to visit ahead of a planned trip this Sunday. Israel’s ambassador to the U.S., Ron Dermer, had previously said Israel would not bar any members of Congress. But Israel’s decision came shortly after President Donald Trump wrote on Twitter that Israel “would show great weakness” if it let in the two congresswomen. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed the decision on Tlaib and Omar, saying he received their itinerary a few days ago and that it “revealed that they planned a visit whose sole objective is to strengthen the boycott against us and deny Israel’s legitimacy.” The itinerary said the destination was listed as Palestine and included no visit with any Israeli officials, he said. Tlaib, D-Mich, and Omar, D-Minn., are supporters of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement targeting Israel. Under Israeli law, BDS supporters can be prevented from entering the country. They have also at times invoked what some critics call anti-Semitic tropes in criticizing the Jewish state. Here are reactions from other Jewish groups, the United States Embassy in Israel and prominent lawmakers. JTA has asked several Republican lawmakers for comment, including Reps. Lee Zeldin of New York and David Kustoff of Tennessee, as well as House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. Who supports the decision? The Republican Jewish Coalition threw its support behind Israel’s decision, noting that the country recently welcomed a congressional delegation of 70 lawmakers from both parties. The RJC said Netanyahu welcoming that delegation shows that this decision “has nothing to do with American partisan politics.” Statement: RJC Supports Israel's Decision to Bar Entry to Reps. Tlaib and Omar **Israeli Law Bars Entry of #BDS Supporters** pic.twitter.com/pLteWvqLaY — RJC (@RJC) August 15, 2019 The right-wing Zionist Organization of America praised the ban in a statement from its president, Morton Klein, and chairman, Mark Levenson. The pair said that the congresswomen “should not be given the opportunity to further delegitimize and harm all of us.” U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman wrote on Twitter that he supports the decision, saying that the lawmakers’ trip itinerary showed the visit “is nothing more than an effort to fuel the BDS engine.” Please read my attached statement with regard to the decision of the Government of Israel to deny entry to BDS activists, Congresswomen Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, in accordance with its national laws. pic.twitter.com/q9M2N1uRkr — David M. Friedman (@USAmbIsrael) August 15, 2019 And who thinks it’s a bad move? AIPAC (See above.) The Simon Wiesenthal Center‘s associate dean and director of global social action Rabbi Abraham Cooper slammed Tlaib and Omar., calling them “unapologetic anti-Semites.” But he also added in a statement that “the first instinct of Israeli officials to let them into the country was [the] right one.” The American Jewish Committee‘s CEO, David Harris, wrote on Twitter that “Israel faced a tough choice,” but that it “should’ve taken the high road & let these Members of Congress in, no matter how vile their views.” #Israel faced a tough choice. Anti-Israel bashers @IlhanMN & @RashidaTlaib planned Israel/W. Bank trip. They wanted no mtgs w/ any Israeli leaders or mainstream voices. Still, 🇮🇱 should’ve taken the high road & let these Members of Congress in, no matter how vile their views. — David Harris (@DavidHarrisAJC) August 15, 2019 The Anti-Defamation League likewise said that “while we absolutely disagree with the pro-BDS positions of Reps. [Omar and Tlaib], keeping them out is counterproductive.” The executive director of the Jewish Democratic Council of America, Halie Soifer, said in a statement that banning lawmakers “is counterproductive and plays into President Trump’s goal of politicizing support for Israel.” Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a statement that the move “is a sign of weakness, not strength” that “will only hurt the U.S.-Israeli relationship and support for Israel in America.” In a statement, the co-chair and CEO of the Democratic Majority for Israel, Mark Mellman, said Israel’s decision was “both wrong and unwise.” The liberal Israel policy group J Street decried the decision in a statement, saying Trump’s tweet urging Israel to ban the members “illustrates that this decision is motivated purely by politics and ideology.” Dan Shapiro, who served as ambassador to Israel under President Barack Obama, criticized Israel’s about-face and wrote on Twitter that there would be “zero harm in letting them come learn, see (even if they had an agenda). Reversal harms Israel’s standing in US, boosts BDS.” Original Israeli decision to allow Tlaib/Omar visit was wise. Reversal makes little sense. I disagree with their stands on Israel, have criticized them. But zero harm in letting them come learn, see (even if they had an agenda). Reversal harms Israel's standing in US, boosts BDS. — Dan Shapiro (@DanielBShapiro) August 15, 2019 Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., called on Netanyahu to reverse the decision. He tweeted that barring Tlaib and Omar “is a sign of enormous disrespect to these elected leaders, to the United States Congress, and to the principles of democracy.” Banning Congresswomen Omar and Tlaib from entering Israel and Palestine is a sign of enormous disrespect to these elected leaders, to the United States Congress, and to the principles of democracy. The Israeli government should reverse this decision and allow them in. https://t.co/mvdcmnFBKU — Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) August 15, 2019 On Twitter, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., called banning the congresswomen “a shameful, unprecedented move” and urged the Jewish state to allow Tlaib and Omar to enter. Israel doesn't advance its case as a tolerant democracy or unwavering US ally by barring elected members of Congress from visiting because of their political views. This would be a shameful, unprecedented move. I urge Israel’s government to allow @IlhanMN and @RashidaTlaib entry. — Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) August 15, 2019 Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the California Democrat and Speaker of the House, said in a statement that “Israel’s denial of entry to Congresswomen Tlaib and Omar is a sign of weakness, and beneath the dignity of the great State of Israel.” Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., said in a tweet the decision “undermines the ability for our two allied countries to have the frank, open and, at times, difficult discussions that we must have in order to ensure Israel remains a secure and democratic nation.” I strongly condemn this decision by the Israeli government, which undermines the ability for our two allied countries to have the frank, open and, at times, difficult discussions that we must have in order to ensure Israel remains a secure and democratic nation. https://t.co/NRTdxW9s4N — (((Rep. Nadler))) (@RepJerryNadler) August 15, 2019 Rep. Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., said she was “saddened” by the decision and urged Israel to reconsiderin a tweet. Read my full statement: pic.twitter.com/uJjk8xcOoQ — Nita Lowey (@NitaLowey) August 15, 2019 Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., said he was “extremely disappointed” by the move. Josefin Dolsten JTA Staff Writer JTA Content distributed by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency news service. Also On J. 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