Tlaib Turns Down Family Visit To West Bank After Israel Grants Request

(Politico) QUINT FORGEY 08/16/2019 10:11 AM Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) said Friday she will not visit her family in the West Bank hours after Israels interior ministry granted her request to travel to the territory on humanitarian grounds. When I won it gave the Palestinian people hope that someone will finally speak the truth about the inhumane conditions. I cant allow the State of Israel to take away that light by humiliating me & use my love for my sity to bow down to their oppressive & racist policies" Tlaib tweeted referring to her 90-year-old grandmother whom she was expected to spend time with in the West Bank. Silencing me & treating me like a criminal is not what she wants for me" Tlaib continued. It would kill a piece of me. I have decided that visiting my grandmother under these oppressive conditions stands against everything I believe in--fighting against racism oppression & injustice." The interior ministry approved Tlaibs entry Friday after she committed not to advocate for the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions movement or BDS during her visit. Tlaib and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) were among 17 lawmakers who opposed a resolution condemning BDS which the House passed in July. Tlaib charged in a statement Friday that the Israeli government used my love and desire to see my grandmother to silence me and made my ability to do so contingent upon my signing a letter reflecting just how undemocratic and afraid they are of the truth my trip would reveal about what is happening in the State of Israel and to Palestinians living under occupation with United States support.