Two US Muslim lawmakers barred from visiting Israel

WASHINGTON: Israel would "show great weakness" if it allows a visit by two Muslim members of the US Congress who support a boycott of the Jewish state, US President Donald Trump said on Thursday.

First-term House Democrats Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, who are expected to visit Israel and the Palestinian territories at the weekend, are the first Muslim women to serve in Congress -- and have been at the receiving end of Trump’s ire before.

They are part of the so-called "squad", a quartet of House Democrats, all women and all ethnic minorities, whom Trump has repeatedly attacked on social media and in campaign speeches.

"It would show great weakness if Israel allowed Rep. Omar and Rep. Tlaib to visit," Trump tweeted.

"They hate Israel & all Jewish people, & there is nothing that can be said or done to change their minds," he said.

"They are a disgrace!"

Omar and Tlaib have been vocal in their criticism of Israel’s policies towards Palestinians.

Israeli officials have acknowledged the visit is being discussed at the highest levels, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holding consultations about the matter on Wednesday.

A final decision is being weighed, and Israel may end up barring the two lawmakers, a government official said on Thursday despite previous signals that they would be allowed in. "There is a possibility that Israel will not allow the visit in its current proposed format," the official said.

Trump sparked a firestorm of outrage last month when he said the four "squad" lawmakers, all US citizens, should "go back" to their countries of origin.

Omar is a refugee who fled Somalia as a child, and Tlaib was born in Detroit, Michigan to Palestinian immigrants.

Omar has been at the centre of a swirling debate about anti-Semitism and discrimination since she joined Congress in January.

Her remark that US political backing for Israel is fuelled by money from a pro-Israel lobbying group, and her open support for a boycott and divestment movement against the Jewish state, led to fierce criticism from both sides of the political aisle.Both women, who became the first Muslim members of the House of Representatives in January, have faced accusations of anti-Semitism, which they firmly deny.

Israeli ambassador to the US Ron Dermer had previously signalled that the pair would be allowed to visit out of respect for Washington.

Omar and Tlaib’s support for BDS comes at a time when Trump has stepped up ties with Tel Aviv and stopped Palestinian aid.

Israel and its allies in Washington have long railed against calls for people and groups across the world to cut economic, cultural and academic ties to the occupying regime.