Tlaib declines to visit West Bank, citing Israeli conditions

Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib said Friday she would not visit her grandmother in the occupied West Bank, despite being granted an Israeli permit on humanitarian grounds, saying Israel's "oppressive" conditions aimed to humiliate her.

Israel barred Tlaib and another Democrat, Rep. Ilhan Omar, from visiting Jerusalem and the West Bank over their support for the international boycott movement following an unprecedented appeal from President Donald Trump to deny them entry.

Israel had said Tlaib could visit relatives in the West Bank on humanitarian grounds.

The Interior Ministry released a letter purportedly signed by Tlaib in which she promised not to advocate boycotts during her visit.

"Visiting my grandmother under these oppressive conditions meant to humiliate me would break my grandmother's heart," she said in a statement.

"Silencing me with treatment to make me feel less-than is not what she wants for me it would kill a piece of me that always stands up against racism and injustice."
Shortly after the announcement, however, Tlaib tweeted that she wouldn't allow Israel to use her love for her grandmother to force her to "bow down to their oppressive & racist policies."
"It's Rashida's right as a Palestinian to come and visit her family and country."
Deri, the interior minister, meanwhile fired back on Twitter, saying: "I approved her request as a gesture of goodwill on a humanitarian basis, but it was just a provocative request, aimed at bashing the State of Israel. Apparently her hate for Israel overcomes her love for her grandmother."
Omar, who became the first Somali American elected to Congress, denounced the ban on her and Tlaib's tour as "an affront" and "an insult to democratic values."