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US Representatives Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar never planned to "walk where Jesus walked," but they did intend to grab the attention of world media from the Temple Mount.
Israel, late yesterday, announced the two US Congresswomen will be denied entry.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "Their intent is to hurt Israel."
Both Muslim congresswomen have left little doubt regarding how they feel about Israel, in fact, they are leading advocates for boycotting Israel from the world community.
The Left is furious, while biblical Christians pray for Israel.
Be informed.
The Issue
Israel's Interior Minister Aryeh Deri confirmed yesterday that Israel has decided to deny entry to two US congresswomen, Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, over their support for boycotting the Jewish state.
The Times of Israel said last night the two were planning to travel to Israel and the West Bank on Sunday.
The Times of Israel is also hosting "live blogging" as these events continue to develop.
In a statement, Deri said the decision was backed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and was made "after Minister Deri was convinced that [ the visit] was part of boycott activism against Israel."
The statement also accused the US lawmakers of "taking advantage" of their prominent political position "to support organizations that call for boycotts of Israel."
The statement further said,
"The state of Israel respects the US Congress as part of the close alliance between the two countries. But it is inconceivable that Israel would be expected to let into the country those who wish to hurt it, including by means of the visit itself."
The reaction.
President Trump tweeted yesterday,
"It would show great weakness if Israel allowed Rep. Omar and Rep. Tlaib to visit. They hate Israel & all Jewish people & there is nothing that can be said or done to change their minds. Minnesota and Michigan will have a hard time putting them back in office. They are a disgrace."
Associated Press is critical of Trump, saying:
"Trump's decision to urge a foreign country to deny entry to elected US officials was a striking departure from the long held practice of politicians from both parties to confine their disputes to the water's edge."
I find it striking that the far Left progressives always feign shock when things change, while they work tirelessly to undermine traditional institutions and policies in the name of progress--- hope and change.
Because of the relentless efforts on the part of the left, including the so-called Christian Left, to de-legitimize Israel, some things have changed.
Public education, some businesses and most of the so-called religious Left are actively advocating the BDS movement--which advocates boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israeli businesses, universities and cultural institutions.
AP says:
"American Jewish organizations had objected to barring the two Democrats from entering the country. The American Jewish Congress said that despite Omar and Tlaib's planned 'propaganda exercise', it believed that 'the costs in the US of barring the entry of two members of Congress may prove even higher than the alternative'."
I think their political calculation is wrong. More Americans like Israel, than dislike or hate Israel.
Recently Israel has passed a law permitting a ban on entry to any activist who "knowingly issues a call for boycotting Israel."
The Palestinian Authority is, of course, calling Israel's decision an "outrageous act."
Democrat leaders, of course, joined the Palestinian Authority. Chuck Schumer said,
"No Democratic society should fear an open debate. Many strong supporters of Israel will be deeply disappointed in this decision."
Nancy Pelosi said,
"As one who loves Israel, I am deeply saddened by the news that Israel has decided to prevent Members of Congress from entering the country." She continued with Israel's action is a "sign of weakness" and she's "praying Israel will reverse it's decision."
Israeli Minister Deri has said that if Mrs. Tlaib filed a request to "meet her family members for humanitarian reasons," that could be granted.
We'll see if they try that as a means of entrance. The end always justifies the means with these folks.
MIFTAH, the Palestinian organization that was set to host Tlaib and Omar in the West Bank, issued a statement yesterday saying that Israel's decision was "an affront to the American people and their representatives."
No, it wasn't. I'm an American person and it was not an affront to me at all. And I know lots of people who were not "affronted."
It's an act of common sense---an act becoming less common in our own country.
Where were the US congresswomen going once inside Israel?
Their itinerary, which was posted to Twitter by the women's representatives, said the trip involved meetings with aid organizations and Palestinian officials to learn about the impact of the Trump administration's aid cuts in the West Bank and Gaza. The trip included visits to the al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount, as well as the Western Wall, Hebron, Bethlehem, and Ramallah.
Not a single Israeli official or Israeli government agency had been asked for a meeting.
The motive.
Last month Tlaib was pointing to examples of boycotts against Nazi Germany and apartheid South Africa as justifying her push for a boycott of Israel when she was speaking against a bill to support Israel.
She told Congress,
"I can't stand by and watch this attack on our free speech and the right to boycott the racist policies of the government of the state of Israel."
The failure of the legislators in include any Israeli perspectives whatsoever reveals this to have not been a fact-finding mission, but rather a propaganda exercise. They were not coming to hear various points of view, but rather to undermine the very legitimacy of the State of Israel.
Their itinerary was even titled "Palestine," not Israel.
Why biblical Christians support Israel.
Genesis 12:3:
"And I will bless them that bless thee and curse him that curseth thee; and in thee shall all nations of the earth be blessed."
God has promised to bless the man or nation that blesses the Chosen People. History has proven beyond reasonable doubt that the nations that have blessed the Jewish people have had the blessing of God; the nations that have cursed the Jewish people have experienced the curse of God.
Pastor John Hagee has been a leader in support of Israel. He has developed an outline of 7 biblical reasons why we should support Israel.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
Be Informed. Be Discerning. Be Prayerful.