Feminist icon Gloria Steinem has called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a "bully" and says she won't visit as long as he remains the country's leader.
In a statement posted online Saturday, she said that Netanyahu's decision to ban a visit by two Democratic congresswomen was "a welcome sign that I never have to enter any country or place under your authority."
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At the urging of US President Donald Trump, Israel denied entry to Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) last week over their support for the Palestinian-led movement to boycott Israel. The two are outspoken critics of Trump and of Israel.
"I know that Donald Trump, the accidental occupant of the White House, is drawn to successful bullies," Steinem wrote, addressing Netanyahu.
"If you and Trump continue to imitate each other, you will eventually be alone together at the table. I could wish both of you no greater punishment than that."
Israel later granted permission for Tlaib to visit her grandmother in the West Bank, and released a letter signed by Tlaib in which she promised not to advocate boycotts during her visit. Tlaib then declined to come, saying Israel's "oppressive" conditions were designed to humiliate her. Israel accused her of staging a provocation.
Tlaib tweeted that she could not allow Israel to "use my love for my sity to bow down to their oppressive & racist policies."
"Sitty," spelled different ways in English, is an Arabic term of endearment for one's grandmother.
