Israeli occupation authorities are preparing for the possibility that Reps. Ihan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, who are expected to arrive Palestine on Friday.
Hebrew sources said that both Omar and Tlaib will visit Al-Aqsa Mosque in the Occupied Jerusalem with representatives of the Palestinian Authority.
Several weeks ago, the Israel's ambassador to Washington, Ron Dermer expressed his respect for the U.S. Congress, Reps. Omar and Tlaib would be allowed to enter 'Israel' despite their support for the BDS movement to boycott Israel.
Sources reported that US-President Trump was disapponited in the decision to allow them to visit Palestine.
Among the scenarios Israeli officials are now preparing for their visit to the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Last week, Israel's deputy national security adviser, Reuven Azar, held a classified interagency meeting to prepare for the congresswomen's visit.
The meeting was designated as highly sensitive due to the fact it took place while 41 House Democrats visited Israel.
Israeli officials briefed on the meeting said Azar asked the participants to keep the fact that the meeting had even taken place a secret.
When he concluded the meeting, Azar said “there is high probability” that Omar and Tlaib would want to visit Al-Aqsa Mosque due to the fact both congresswomen are Muslim.
Azar instructed the Israeli police, who control access to the holy site, to ensure no Palestinian officials joined Omar and Tlaib on the visit.
According to Israeli officials, Azar stressed that “the preferred goal is that the congresswomen won’t come to Israel at all” — and cancel the visit for their own reasons.
He added that if they do arrive in "Israel", the goal is to “minimize as much as possible the damage to Israel in the U.S. political system and public opinion."
All representatives of all government agencies present at the meeting agreed that Omar and Tlaib should be allowed in the country in order to avoid harm to the U.S.-Israel relationship, the sources said.
But, but, but: That doesn’t apply to Omar and Tlaib’s staffers or other delegation members.
Azar said Israel would assess the members of the delegation and decide whether to allow them in on a case-by-case basis, depending on their support of the BDS movement.
Azar instructed the Israeli Foreign Ministry to seek from the U.S. Embassy an advance list of delegation members in order to vet them in advance and notify those who would not be allowed to enter Israel.
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