Media Bashes Israel for Omar Ban, but Didn't Complain When Libs Said Trump Wasn't Welcome
Benjamin Franklin said nothing can be said to be certain aside from death and taxes. But if Franklin had lived in the modern day, I’m confident he would have added liberal hypocrisy to his list of inevitabilities.
There is an important reason why I point it out when I see it.
When the left makes a hypocritical argument, it shows that they are not committed to the truth. Let me be clear. I can be opposed to someone and we both want to know the truth. There are well-meaning liberals who search for truth and I just disagree with where they end up.
But the progressive left has abandoned any principles they once had in exchange for messages that exploit fear, hate and propaganda.
Take for example the left’s response to two different situations: Israel telling Democratic Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan they aren’t welcome in Israel and liberals telling President Donald Trump he isn’t welcome in their cities.
The Times of Israel announced Thursday that Omar and Tlaib will not be allowed in Israel for a planned visit.
And the reasoning was brutally simple.
“Israel has decided — we won’t enable the members of Congress to enter the country,” Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely told an Israeli broadcaster, the newspaper reported.
“We won’t allow those who deny our right to exist in this world to enter Israel. In principle, this is a very justified decision.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Twitter account posted a statement defending the position.
“No country in the world respects America and the American Congress more than the State of Israel,” Netanyahu said. “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.”
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.
— PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) August 15, 2019
“In fact, in the past the US did this to an Israeli member of Knesset, as well as to other public figures from around the world,” Netanyahu continued. “Congresswomen Tlaib and Omar are leading activists in promoting the legislation of boycotts against Israel in the American Congress. Only a few days ago, we received their itinerary for their visit in Israel, which revealed that they planned a visit whose sole objective is to strengthen the boycott against us and deny Israel’s legitimacy.”
In fact, in the past the US did this to an Israeli member of Knesset, as well as to other public figures from around the world.
Congresswomen Tlaib and Omar are leading activists in promoting the legislation of boycotts against Israel in the American Congress.
— PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) August 15, 2019
Netanyahu then explained how Omar and Tlaib had never attempted to make a ‘state’ visit to Israel.
“They listed the destination of their trip as Palestine and not Israel, and unlike all Democratic and Republican members of Congress who have visited Israel, they did not request to meet any Israeli officials, either from the government or the opposition,” Netanyahu said. “A week ago, Israel warmly welcomed some 70 Democratic and Republican members of Congress, who expressed broad bipartisan support for Israel, which was also demonstrated a month ago in a resounding bipartisan vote against BDS in Congress.”
A week ago, Israel warmly welcomed some 70 Democratic and Republican members of Congress, who expressed broad bipartisan support for Israel, which was also demonstrated a month ago in a resounding bipartisan vote against BDS in Congress.
— PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) August 15, 2019
Then the prime minister let the hammer drop.
“The itinerary of the two Congresswomen reveals that the sole purpose of their visit is to harm Israel and increase incitement against it,” he tweeted. “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.”
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.
— PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) August 15, 2019
Netanyahu was correct in his assessment of Omar’s intentions as proven by the very words on her itinerary.
According to their own itinerary, Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib chose to refer to Israel as “Palestine”.
Their trip there was little more than a self-indulgent ploy to delegitimize and malign the Jewish State from within its borders. pic.twitter.com/yjDEUeMayo— Harry Khachatrian (@Harry1T6) August 15, 2019
Netanyahu concluded his statement by again affirming his support for the decision but made allowances for them to visit under other circumstances.
“Therefore, the minister of interior has decided not to allow their visit, and I, as prime minister, support his decision,” Netanyahu said. “Nonetheless, if Congresswoman Tlaib submits a humanitarian request to visit her relatives, the minister of interior has announced that he will consider her request on the condition that she pledges not to act to promote boycotts against Israel during her visit.”
Nonetheless, if Congresswoman Tlaib submits a humanitarian request to visit her relatives, the minister of interior has announced that he will consider her request on the condition that she pledges not to act to promote boycotts against Israel during her visit.
— PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) August 15, 2019
As you might expect, the left was furious at the news.
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders characterized the move as “enormous disrespect.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the decision was “beneath the dignity of the great state of Israel.”
New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker implied that Israel’s blocking of Omar and Tlaib was influenced by “the dangerous nature of Trump’s racist rhetoric.”
Omar herself called it “an insult to democratic values.”
But the left wasn’t counting on Sean Davis, co-founder of conservative outlet The Federalist, weighing in.
“It sure is strange how the media cheered left-wing activists who said Trump was “not welcome” in El Paso, then turned right around and bashed Israel for saying two anti-Semites who deny Israel’s right to exist weren’t welcome in the country,” Davis said.
It sure is strange how the media cheered left-wing activists who said Trump was “not welcome” in El Paso, then turned right around and bashed Israel for saying two anti-Semites who deny Israel’s right to exist weren’t welcome in the country.
— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) August 15, 2019
Davis then listed examples of people who have said Trump wasn’t welcome to various places. In each instance, the left was silent.
The congresswoman, who represents El Paso, just said President Trump is “not welcome” to visit https://t.co/QaHWlj60mO
— Jonathan Lemire (@JonLemire) August 5, 2019
El Paso freshman Rep. Veronica Escobar says President Trump is not welcome in the city https://t.co/qntvoiIGzS
— KABB FOX 29 (@KABBFOX29) August 6, 2019
Rachel Maddow astounded that President Trump is not welcome in El Paso: “That is profound” https://t.co/PVAQR4ZBFe
— Salon (@Salon) August 6, 2019
Beto O’Rourke accused President Trump of inciting racism and inviting violence and said he is not welcome in El Paso. https://t.co/OGu9WMZbPV pic.twitter.com/odXhkX7IKZ
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) August 6, 2019
WATCH: Texas lawmaker says Trump not welcome in El Paso after shooting https://t.co/lYWnGZKoQT pic.twitter.com/4d7Dd0rTiv
— The Hill (@thehill) August 5, 2019
“Trump, you are not welcome in this community,” Border Network for Human Rights executive director Fernando Garcia says.
The crowd breaks into a “Send him back!” chant.
— Eric Bradner (@ericbradner) August 7, 2019
De Blasio: Trump “will not be welcome back in New York City” https://t.co/RwjQz0gT87 pic.twitter.com/EvfVfrTIfU
— The Hill (@thehill) July 26, 2019
The Guardian editorial board says Trump is “not welcome” in U.K. ahead of his first state visit https://t.co/E7Pwt7AnJs pic.twitter.com/ytuVIMoOgl
— The Hill (@thehill) June 3, 2019
Donald Trump is not welcome in the Dutch parliament.
Geen ruimte voor haatpredikers in Nederland, dus ook niet voor @realDonaldTrump. Daarom is hij volgens ons niet welkom. pic.twitter.com/ifEZpBrgeu
— DENK (@DenkNL) May 14, 2019
Union urges Government to tell Donald Trump he is not welcome in Ireland https://t.co/SqrEl4NCU2
— The Irish Times (@IrishTimes) May 13, 2019
The Observer view on the Mueller report: Trump is a disgrace and is not welcome in Britain | Observer editorial https://t.co/R0yDX4G7Hs
— Alan W. Silberberg (@IdeaGov) April 23, 2019
Newark Mayor @Rasbaraka tells crowd @realDonaldTrump is not welcome in NJ–not even at #EWR Newark Liberty Intl. Airport at event with @GovMurphy #politics @NBCNewYork pic.twitter.com/n05Ly85z2F
— Brian Thompson (@brian4NY) November 7, 2018
Ahead of Trump’s visit, Congressman Juan Vargas @RepJuanVargas says Trump is not welcome in San Diego and promises to impeach him. “He’d be welcome here if he stopped his racism … If he had some decency. He has none of that so he’s not welcome!” @KPBSnews pic.twitter.com/xQyBR42R3O
— Jean Guerrero (@jeanguerre) March 12, 2018
President Trump is not welcome in U.K. Parliament, speaker of the British House of Commons says https://t.co/VwiVkueYM0 pic.twitter.com/0JmxdMuZBm
— Yahoo News (@YahooNews) February 7, 2017
Remember all the times when Democratic politicians and the establishment media objected to Trump not being “welcomed” to those places?
Yeah, me neither.
The point is not whether Israel has the right to ban Oman and Tlaib (they do), but rather that the left’s outrage is disingenuous and hypocritical.
Even some conservatives doubt if Israel is making the right decision, but the left’s anger is a smoke and mirrors act meant to rile up the Democratic anti-Trump base for more political donations on the premise of fake fury.
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