The delegation will learn firsthand about Israel’s democracy, diverse society and regional challenges, as well as its economic, technological and social innovation and entrepreneurship.

Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan presented the plan to U.S. President Donald Trump's administration last Thursday, which according to The New York Times envisions sending up to 120,000 troops to the Middle East should Iran attack American forces or accelerate work on nuclear weapons.

Hanan Ashrawi, a top official in the Palestine Liberation Organization, says she was rejected for political reasons. Educated in the U.S., Ashrawi, 72, says she has visited America many times and typically makes several visits a year to see family. State Department official declines to provide details about her case.

Rep. Rashida Tlaib says she gets "a calming feeling" when she thinks of "the tragedy of the Holocaust," the suffering of her Palestinian ancestors, and the new state of Israel. "Policing my words, twisting and turning them to ignite vile attacks on me will not work," she says.

U.S. president does not elaborate on the threat, telling reporters, “You can figure it out yourself. [The Iranians] know what I mean by it.” Meanwhile, American military's initial assessment is that Iranian or Iranian-backed proxies sabotaged four ships anchored off the coast of the United Arab Emirates on Sunday.