Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended his decision not to allow two US Congresswomen into the country on Sunday and insisted that Jerusalem's envoy to the US was unaware of their tour itinerary before stating that they would be allowed in.
Controversy erupted when Israel's Interior Ministry announced on Thursday that US Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Mich.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Minn.) would be barred from entering the Jewish state based on their outspoken support for the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement.
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Netanyahu said on Sunday that while he respected the US Congress, advocating boycotts against Israel was a step too far.
"There is only one exception: the exception is the BDS Law that requires us to check the entrance of supporters of BDS," Netanyahu told reporters before setting off for a two-day trip to Ukraine.
A law passed in 2017 allows Israel to ban any foreign national who expresses public support for boycotts against the Jewish state from entering the country.
Netanyahu also said that Israel's Ambassador to the US Ron Dermer issued a statement last month stating the two lawmakers would be welcomed "out of respect for Congress" before learning of their travel plans.
"We respect all parties in the United States, but we also respect ourselves. Anyone who comes to boycott us and comes to undermine the legitimacy of State of Israel, we don't allow them to enter," he said.
In a statement, Netanyahu said, "Several days ago, we received [Omar and Tlaib's] trip itinerary, which clarified that they planned a visit whose sole purpose was to support boycotts and deny Israel's legitimacy. For example, they called their destination 'Palestine' and not 'Israel,' and unlike all Democratic and Republican members of Congress before them, they did not seek any meeting with any Israeli official, whether [from the] government or [the] opposition."
This article was originally published by i24NEWS.
