Mondoweiss: Israel’s decision to bar Tlaib/Omar anguishes US supporters, who blame Trump-Netanyahu political tactics

By Eric Cortellessa

American Zionists are blaming Trump. Silverstein of J Street:

another demonstration of how the joint Netanyahu-Trump campaign committee will invariably put their political futures before the interests of the United States and Israel

Jennifer Rubin, rightwing Israel supporter at the Washington Post, calls thedecision “a huge, unprecedented mistake. No critics allowed in Israel? outrageous.” But she puts the onus on Trump hurting Israel and the U.S.:

Israel is a democracy. Weak, fearful countries don’t allow critics in. But then as someone weak and fearful and not pro-democracy you don’t get that, I know. And btw how DARE the US president advocate for excluding an American from anywhere in the world.

The Jewish Democratic Council of America also blames Trump, not Netanyahu. It worries that he will further Democratic Party criticisms of Israel, and the boycott campaign..

[W]e urge the government of Israel to reject President Trump’s unprecedented and ill-advised recommendation to deny Congresswomen Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) entry into Israel.

Once again, President Trump has inappropriately interfered in Israel’s democracy, to the detriment of the U.S.-Israel relationship….

Preventing members of Congress from visiting Israel is effectively forcing them to boycott. This is unwise and counterproductive. Certainly, it is not the way to fight the global BDS movement, which we strongly oppose.