DEARBORN — Following the suggestion from President Trump that they would be “showing great weakness” to allow entry to Congresswomen Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar, Israel announced earlier today that they would be barring the representatives from visiting during an upcoming diplomatic trip. In response, state Rep. Abdullah Hammoud (D-Dearborn) issued the following statement:

 

            "I am appalled by the Israeli government’s decision to bar Congresswomen Tlaib and Omar from the trip, and the cowardice inherent in the choice to prevent someone who disagrees with you from being able to participate in a diplomatic visit. Trying to shield some of the most vocal critics of the administration's participation in ongoing and well-documented human rights violations will further delay the possibility of any just resolutions to both the ongoing humanitarian crises and the lack of Palestinian self-determination. Perhaps worst in this situation is the precedent set by the President of the United States in uniting with a foreign government to blacklist American citizens, let alone members of Congress. Our nation's leaders should be outraged. We must apply political pressure on the Israeli government to reverse its decision and allow entry to Reps. Tlaib and Omar."

 

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