Rashida Tlaib cancels West Bank visit over ‘oppressive conditions’

Democratic congresswoman Rashida Tlaib has cancelled her visit to Israel to vist her elderly grandmother citing the “oppressive conditions” of her trip.

On Friday, Israel’s interior minister approved a request by Tlaib to enter the Israeli-occupied West Bank on humanitarian grounds..

Aryeh Deri said on Friday that Ms Tlaib asked to visit her 90-year-old grandmother.

In a letter published by Mr Deri’s office, Ms Tlaib said she would respect any restrictions and would “not promote boycotts” during her visit.

However, after the approval, Tlaib took to twitter to say: “Silencing me & treating me like a criminal is not what she wants for me. It would kill a piece of me. I have decided that visiting my grandmother under these oppressive conditions stands against everything I believe in–fighting against racism, oppression & injustice.”

On Thursday, Israel decided to ban Ms Tlaib and fellow Demoocratic congresswoman Ilhan Omar from visiting the West Bank, arguing that they would promote a boycott campaign against Israel during the trip.

Israel’s decision sparked widespread criticism, including from Israeli and Jewish organisations who said it was an affront to US institutions to bar the entry of members of Congress.