Israel bars entry to outspoken US Congresswomen Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar

Israel said Thursday that it will bar two Democratic congresswomen from entering country ahe of a planned visit over ir support for a Palestinian-led boycott movement, a decision anunced shortly after President Donald Trump tweeted that it would "show great weakness" to allow m in.

move to bar Representatives  Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota from visiting appeared to be unprecedented. It marked a deep foray by Israel into America's bitterly polarized politics and a sharp escalation of Israel's campaign against international boycott movement. two newly-elected Muslim members of Congress are outspoken critics of Israel's treatment of Palestinians and have repeatedly sparred with Trump over a range of issues.

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Tlaib's family immigrated to United States from West Bank, where she still has close relatives. y h planned to visit Jerusalem and West Bank on a tour organised by a Palestinian organisation aimed at highlighting plight of Palestinians. It was t immediately clear if y h planned to meet with Israeli officials, and spokespeople for two congresswomen did t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is "open to critics and criticism," except for those who vocate boycotts against it.

"Congresswomen Tlaib and Omar are leing activists in promoting legislation of boycotts against Israel in American Congress," Netanyahu charged.

He said ir itinerary "revealed that y planned a visit whose sole objective is to strengn boycott against us and deny Israel's legitimacy." Omar deunced decision as "an affront" and "an insult to democratic values."

"This is t a surprise given public positions of Prime Minister Netanyahu, who has consistently resisted peace efforts, restricted freedom of movement of Palestinians, limited public kwledge of brutal realities of occupation and aligned himself with Islamophobes like Donald Trump," Omar said in a statement.

Shortly before decision was anunced, Trump h tweeted that "it would show great weakness" if Israel allowed m to visit.

"y hate Israel & all Jewish people, & re is thing that can be said or done to change ir minds."

He went on to call two congresswomen "a disgrace." US ambassor to Israel, David Friedman, endorsed decision after it was me, saying Israel "has every right to protect its borders" against promoters of boycotts "in same manner as it would bar entrants with more conventional weapons."

Trump's decision to urge a foreign country to deny entry to elected US officials was a striking departure from long-held practice of politicians from both parties of leaving ir disputes at water's edge. Democratic lawmakers in US Congress deunced Israel's decision. Top ranking Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer of New York said it was a sign of weakness inste of strength and "will only hurt US-Israeli relationship and support for Israel in America."

A close freshman colleague of two lawmakers, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, said Israel's move is "bigoted, short sighted and cruel."Israel has sought to combat BDS movement, which vocates boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israeli businesses, universities and cultural institutions. country passed a law permitting a ban on entry to any activist who "kwingly issues a call for boycotting Israel."

Last month, Israeli ambassor to US Ron Dermer h said Israel would t deny entry to any member of Congress. interior ministry said in a statement Thursday that " state of Israel respects American Congress, in framework of close alliance between two countries, but it's unacceptable to allow entrance to country of those who wish to harm state of Israel, especially during ir visit."

Israel said it would consider any request from Tlaib to visit relatives on humanitarian grounds. Supporters of boycott movement say it is a n-violent way to protest Israeli policies and call for Palestinian rights. Critics say boycott movement aims to delegitimize Israel and ultimately erase it from map, replacing it with a binational state. Israel often hosts delegations of US representatives and senators, who usually meet with senior Israeli officials as well as Palestinian officials in occupied West Bank.

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Israel controls entry and exit points to West Bank, which it seized along with east Jerusalem and Gaza Strip in 1967 Mideast war. Palestinians seek se territories for ir future state. MIFTAH, Palestinian organisation that was set to host Tlaib and Omar in West Bank, issued a statement saying that Israel's decision was "an affront to American people and ir representatives" and "an assault on Palestinian people's right to reach out to decision-makers and or actors from around world."

move could furr sharpen divisions among Democrats over Israel ahe of 2020 elections. Republicans have amplified views of left-wing Democrats like Tlaib and Omar to present party as deeply divided and at odds with Israel. Democratic leers have pushed back, reiterating party's strong support for Israel, in part to protect representatives from more conservative districts. (AP)