According to breaking reports, Prime Minister Netanyahu is denying Representatives Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib permission to travel to Israel and the West Bank. This morning President Trump attacked these members of Congress and tweeted that it would show “great weakness” if they were granted entry.

We need to be clear about this: The unprecedented decision to ban sitting members of Congress -- the first two Muslim women in Congress -- from visiting Israel is motivated purely by right-wing politics, not by the interests of the State of Israel. This is an affront to Congress and the American people and does severe damage to the US-Israel relationship.

As pro-Israel, pro-peace Americans, we know that strong democracies allow space for critical voices and scrutiny. We may disagree with the views that the members hold on such questions as BDS or with Rep. Tlaib on the two-state solution, but the right approach for a state that values democracy is to welcome criticism and debate, not to suppress it.

We reject this dangerous decision and call for Reps. Omar and Tlaib to be allowed to travel to Israel and the West Bank.