US lawmaker Rashida Tlaib refuses to visit West Bank after Israel permits

The United States lawmaker Rashida Tlaib has refused to visit West Bank after Israel granted her permission earlier today. The Democrat Congresswoman reportedly said she cannot visit the place under 'oppressive' Israeli conditions. 

She said when she 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 city to bow down to their oppressive & racist policies," she added.

The Representative for Michigan's 13th congressional district said in a tweet, "I have decided that visiting my grandmother under these oppressive conditions stands against everything I believe in--fighting against racism, oppression & injustice."

 

Earlier today, Israel announced that it would allow the entry to the barred US lawmaker Rashida Tlaib for 'humanitarian' visit. Tlaib will be allowed to visit her family in the occupied West Bank.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday he would not allow Tlaib and congresswoman Ilhan Omar, both Democrats, to make a planned trip to Israel. However, he said that if Tlaib submitted a request to visit family on humanitarian grounds, Israel would consider it as long as she promised not to promote a boycott against Israel.

The Congresswomen were barred by Israel over their support for the pro-Palestinian Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a lobbying group that advocates pro-Israel policies to the Congress and Executive Branch of the United States, however, opposed the ban on their entry.

The group said, "We believe every member of Congress should be able to visit and experience our democratic ally Israel firsthand."

"We disagree with Reps. Omar and Tlaib's support for the anti-Israel and anti-peace BDS movement, along with Rep. Tlaib's calls for a one-state solution," AIPAC said in a tweet.

Tlaib, 43, who was born in the United States, draws her roots to the Palestinian village of Beit Ur al-Fauqa in the occupied West Bank. Her grandmother and extended family live in the village.