Following being denied entry into Israel, Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) shared an anti-Semitic cartoon on Instagram by an illustrator who was a runner-up during Iran’s annual Holocaust cartoon content in 2006.
The cartoon by Brazilian-Lebanese artist Carlos Latuff depicts Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu covering Tlaib’s mouth with his hand while shushing her, while U.S. President Donald Trump does the same with Omar.
Israel on Thursday announced that it would bar Tlaib and Omar from entering the country, citing their support for the anti-Israel BDS movement.
Batya Ungar-Sargon, opinion editor for The Forward, first called attention to the provocative image.
Oof. Looks like both Rep. Omar and Rep. Tlaib shared this awful Carlos Latuff cartoon in Instagram stories yesterday. In 2006, Latuff came in second in Iran's International Holocaust Cartoon Contest, which is a thing that exists, in case you thought the TL couldn't get any worse. pic.twitter.com/uwyBPAsz7T
— Batya Ungar-Sargon (@bungarsargon) August 18, 2019
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “No country in the world respects America and the American Congress more than the State of Israel. As a free and vibrant democracy, Israel is open to critics and criticism with one exception: Israeli law prohibits the entry into Israel of those who call for and work to impose boycotts on Israel, as do other democracies that prohibit the entry of people who seek to harm the country.”
He continued, “The itinerary of the two congresswomen reveals that the sole purpose of their visit is to harm Israel and increase incitement against it. In addition, the organization that is funding their trip is Miftah, which is an avid supporter of BDS, and among whose members are those who have expressed support for terrorism against Israel.”
Trump on Thursday called on Israel to deny Tlaib and Omar from entering the Jewish state.
“It would show great weakness if Israel allowed Rep. Omar and Rep. Tlaib to visit. They hate Israel & all Jewish people, & there is nothing that can be said or done to change their minds. Minnesota and Michigan will have a hard time putting them back in office. They are a disgrace!” he tweeted.
Tlaib was granted a humanitarian request to visit her grandmother in the West Bank but decided not to go.
