Politics & Government

Israel Walks Back Ban On Tlaib's Visit, Tlaib Rejects Offer

Rep. Rashida Tlaib is refusing to visit Israel over "racist treatment" from the Israeli government.

Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib pulled back a request to visit Israel over "racist treatment."
Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib pulled back a request to visit Israel over "racist treatment." (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib on Friday canceled her visit to her grandmother in the West Bank after Israel rescinded its decision to ban her from visiting. Tlaib's decision not to go is based on the "oppressive conditions," she tweeted.

"In my attempt to visit Palestine, I've experienced the same racist treatment that many Palestinian-Americans endure when encountering the Israeli government," Tlaib said in a statement.

Israel decided Thursday to ban Rep. Tlaib and her colleague, Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, from visiting the West Bank after President Donald Trump tweeted it would "show great weakness" on Israel's part if they allowed the two Muslim congresswomen to enter the country.

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"They hate Israel & all Jewish people," Trump tweeted on Thursday. The congresswomen have been critical of the Israeli government but deny holding any hatred for Jewish people.

Then, Friday morning, Israel's interior ministry that they had granted Tlaib's request to enter, noting she'd promised not to promote boycotts against Israel and to respect Israel's restrictions on her visit, according to an NBC report.

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But Tlaib then rescinded her request to enter. "I cannot allow the Israeli government to... use my deep desire to see my grandmother, potentially for the last time, as a political bargaining chip," she said in a statement.

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