It’s clear what’s happening here, John.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrongly banned Muslim Representatives Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib from entering the country because he’s afraid of what they’ll witness and what they’ll say about the oppression of Palestinians under military rule.

Both Ilhan and Rashida have been strong advocates for the rights of ALL people, and that alone threatens Israeli leadership. But Israel is supposed to be a democracy, just like us, where freedom of speech exists -- the move to ban elected members of Congress out of fear of criticism speaks volumes about the state of Netanyahu‘s "democracy."

Israel receives BILLIONS of dollars from the U.S. every year. Allied nations, especially those receiving huge sums of financial aid, don’t get to tell Members of Congress they’re not allowed to travel there.

That’s why DFA is partnering with Win Without War to demand members of Congress refuse to travel to Israel until the ban on Ilhan and Rashida is lifted. We plan on delivering petition signatures ASAP, and we need a strong display of public pressure to ensure our message is heard.

Sign the petition now: Call on each Member of Congress to not travel to Israel until ALL members of Congress are free to do so.

Don’t be fooled by Trump’s racist, xenophobic, and Islamophobic rhetoric. He’s trying to paint Ilhan and Rashida as hateful extremists, but we know the truth. As Bernie Sanders pointed out in defense of his progressive colleagues, it is not anti-semitic to simply call out the injustice and oppression of Palestinians -- no matter what Trump and Netanyahu say.

This ban on two members’ of Congress ability to travel to Israel is a slap in the face to the United States, and dangerous proof that Netanyahu's leadership is to serve Trump's political whims no matter what the cost to the people of Israel.

For the sake of justice and democracy, demand Members of Congress pledge to not visit Israel until Representatives Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar are allowed to visit too. Add your name to our petition now.

No matter what happens, we will continue to stand alongside these strong, progressive, women of color in Congress as they fight for freedom, justice, and human rights for all.

Thank you for taking action and helping us make a difference in this unprecedented moment,

-Charles

Charles Chamberlain, Chair
Democracy for America