Talib Chooses Politics Over Visiting Grandmother In Israel, Cites 'Oppression'
'Squad member politicizes visiting an aging relative
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Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) wrote a letter to Israeli Interior Minister Ayreh Deri Thursday begging to visit her aging grandmother, prompting Israel to reverse its decision.
Israel has barred bother Reps. Tlaib and Ilhan Omar (D-MN) from entering the country due to their support of the BDS movement.
“Congressmen Tlaib and Omar are leading activists in promoting boycott legislation against Israel in the U.S. Congress,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.
His statement read in part:
"For instance: they listed the destination of their trip as Palestine and not Israel, and unlike all Democratic and Republican members of Congress who have visited Israel, they did not request to meet any Israeli officials, either from the government or the opposition."
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But Tlaib wrote a letter to Interior Minister Deri begging to visit her relatives in the West Bank, and her aging grandmother.
She promised to abide by Israel’s rules by refraining from advocating boycotts.
Her letter read:
"I would like to request admittance to Israel in order to visit my relatives, and specifically my grandmother, who is in her 90s and lives in Beit Ur al-Fouqa.
"This could be my last opportunity to see her.
"I will respect any restrictions and will not promote boycotts against Israel during my visit."
But when Israel honored her request, Tlaib refused to accept its reversal, putting the concerns of her grandmother aside and argued against Israel’s “oppressive conditions.”
The letter Rep. Rashida Tlaib sent to Israeli Interior Minister Ayreh Deri requesting a visit to her family in the West Bank, in which she promises to "respect any restrictions" and "not promote boycotts against Israel during my visit." pic.twitter.com/2HUjAkYMaY
— Oren Liebermann (@OrenCNN) August 16, 2019
When I won, it gave the Palestinian people hope that someone will finally speak the truth about the inhumane conditions. I can't allow the State of Israel to take away that light by humiliating me & use my love for my sity to bow down to their oppressive & racist policies. https://t.co/OYIwExV0ga
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) August 16, 2019
Silencing me & treating me like a criminal is not what she wants for me. It would kill a piece of me. I have decided that visiting my grandmother under these oppressive conditions stands against everything I believe in--fighting against racism, oppression & injustice. https://t.co/z5t5j3qk4H
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) August 16, 2019
חברת הקונגרס רשידה טליב, צייצה כעת שלא תגיע לישראל. אמש שלחה לי מכתב ובו ביקשה לאפשר לה לבקר את סבתה בת ה-90 ״כי זו יכולה להיות ההזדמנות האחרונה שלי לפגוש אותה״.
— אריה מכלוף דרעי (@ariyederi) August 16, 2019
אישרתי זאת הומניטרית, אך מתברר כי זו הייתה פרובוקציה כדי להבאיש את ריחה של ישראל. שנאתה לישראל גוברת על אהבתה לסבתה
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“When I won, it gave the Palestinian people hope that someone will finally speak the truth about the inhumane conditions,” she tweeted Friday.
“I can’t allow the State of Israel to take away that light by humiliating me & use my love for my sity to bow down to their oppressive & racist policies,” she continued.
“Silencing me & treating me like a criminal is not what she wants for me. It would kill a piece of me,” she added.
“I have decided that visiting my grandmother under these oppressive conditions stands against everything I believe in–fighting against racism, oppression & injustice,” she closed:
It is still not clear if Tlaib planned to reject Israel’s offer before sending the letter.
Deri responded to Tlaib’s decision, writing:
"Congresswoman Rashida Talib has now tweeted that she will not come to Israel.
"Last night, she sent me a letter asking her to allow her 90-year-old grandmother to visit “because this could be my last chance to meet her.”
"I approved it humanitarian, but it turns out that it was a provocation to embarrass Israel.
"Her hatred for Israel overcomes her love for her grandmother."
The controversial trip to Israel by radical Democratic Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), was partially sponsored by a terror-linked group, according to reports.
The far-left Democrats' anti-Israel trip was canceled when the Israeli government refused the pair entry to the country.
Tlaib, however, was later granted access on "humanitarian" grounds after claiming she wanted to see her grandmother in Palestine.
