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THREAD: Banning Omar and Tlaib from Israel is possibly the most short-sighted and counterproductive thing that the Israeli government will have done in years 1/
Having them come to Israel and see the situation firsthand while hearing directly from Israelis is the most effective way of introducing some complications into their worldview, but even if their itinerary is completely one-sided, keeping them out is still myopic 2/
They are sitting Members of Congress. They are literal representatives of the American government and the American people. It doesn’t matter who they meet with and what they want to see; Israel is keeping out elected American officials 3/
Can you think of any other American ally or any other democracy that would bar Members of Congress from entering their country? Not only will this be the biggest grenade yet to be tossed into U.S.-Israel relations and relations with Democrats, it damages Israel incalculably 4/
Try to maintain the argument that Israel is a robust democracy after it has denied entry to two Congresswomen not because of anything they have done but because of the views they hold. Try to argue for Israel’s fundamental strength when it is so terrified of an opinion 5/
This isn’t keeping out a 23 year old BDS activist, which is also dumb and counterproductive. It is keeping out actual sitting members of the House. If you think this won’t reverberate for years, you are wrong. Same f you think this counters BDS rather than boosts it 6/
And the way this will unfold is tragically predictable. It will cause a firestorm, Democrats who disagree with Omar and Tlaib will be forced to rush to their defense (as they should), Trump will use this as “proof” that Dems hate Israel, wash rinse and repeat 7/
So the far left wins, Trump wins, and Israel definitively and overwhelmingly loses. And all because Netanyahu is too scared to stand up to Trump when he’s using Israel for his own politics, and tell him that not everything he thinks Israel should do is actually good for Israel 8/
Don’t be distracted by the cries of “but their itinerary!” That misses the fundamental point. Yes, it would be great if Omar and Tlaib were open-minded and secure enough in their views to have them challenged. But Israel entirely plays into their hands by keeping them out 9/
Absolutely nothing good will come from this. If there is any common sense and strategic thinking in the prime minister’s office, he will let Omar and Tlaib in through Ben Gurion with a wide welcome and not a peep. Otherwise, whatever comes next is on him /END
