A GOP lawmaker blasted Reps. Ilhan Omar Ilhan OmarOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Trump attacks Omar for criticizing US: 'How did you do where you came from?' Democrats scramble on COVID-19 relief amid division, Trump surprise MORE (D-Minn.) and Rashida Tlaib Rashida Harbi TlaibTrump attacks Omar for criticizing US: 'How did you do where you came from?' George Conway: 'Trump is like a practical joke that got out of hand' Pelosi endorses Kennedy in Massachusetts Senate primary challenge MORE (D-Mich.) on Thursday after the Israeli government said it would deny the U.S. lawmakers entry to the country, arguing that Israel should ban perceived "enemies."

Rep. Mo Brooks Morris (Mo) Jackson BrooksOvernight Defense: Trump hosts Israel, UAE, Bahrain for historic signing l Air Force reveals it secretly built and flew new fighter jet l Coronavirus creates delay in Pentagon research for alternative to 'forever chemicals' OVERNIGHT ENERGY: House Democrats tee up vote on climate-focused energy bill next week | EPA reappoints controversial leader to air quality advisory committee | Coronavirus creates delay in Pentagon research for alternative to 'forever chemicals' Coronavirus creates delay in Pentagon research for alternative to 'forever chemicals,' official says MORE (R-Ala.) took to Twitter to defend Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Benjamin (Bibi) NetanyahuMORE’s decision to block Omar and Tlaib from going to Israel on a planned trip this weekend, saying it was the right decision due to the lawmakers' past criticism of the Israeli government.

Omar and Tlaib have supported the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel, and Israeli law prohibits those who support a boycott of Israel from entering the country, something Netanyahu noted in announcing the decision Thursday to block the U.S. lawmakers.

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“Like many nations, Israel bars enemies from entering Israel. How can anyone disagree with that?” Brooks tweeted. “Israel bans Reps. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib because they hate, want to hurt, maybe even destroy, Israel. I respect & support Israel's sovereignty & right to exist.”

#Israel



Like many nations, Israel bars enemies from entering Israel.



How can anyone disagree with that?



Israel bans Reps. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib because they hate, want to hurt, maybe even destroy, Israel.



I respect & support Israel's sovereignty & right to exist. Mo — Mo Brooks (@RepMoBrooks) August 15, 2019

Brooks was not the only GOP lawmaker to voice support for Israel's decision, with Rep. Chip RoyCharles (Chip) Eugene RoyPelosi must go — the House is in dire need of new leadership GOP lawmakers want answers from Disney on Mulan, China Freedom Caucus member Chip Roy touts bipartisanship in first campaign ad MORE (R-Texas) also backing up Netanyahu amid backlash from Democrats and several other GOP figures on Thursday.

“Democrat Reps Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib should have come with the rest of the U.S. delegation to Israel,” Roy said in a statement, referencing a recent congressional trip. “Unfortunately they refused to do so and chose instead to make a political show of their trip.”

“I stand fully with Prime Minister Netanyahu and Israel regarding their right to deny admittance to anyone who advocates against the interests of Israel,” he added.

The remarks from the two congressmen, who are among the most conservative members of Congress, contrasted with those from other Republican lawmakers who, while criticizing Omar and Tlaib, said they should be allowed to enter Israel.

“[D]enying them entry into #Israel is a mistake. Being blocked is what they really hoped for all along in order to bolster their attacks against the Jewish state,” Sen. Marco Rubio Marco Antonio RubioGOP lawmakers distance themselves from Trump comments on transfer of power McConnell pushes back on Trump: 'There will be an orderly transition' Graham vows GOP will accept election results after Trump comments MORE (R-Fla.) tweeted Thursday.

I disagree 100% with Reps. Tlaib & Omar on #Israel & am the author of the #AntiBDS bill we passed in the Senate



But denying them entry into #Israel is a mistake.



Being blocked is what they really hoped for all along in order to bolster their attacks against the Jewish state. — Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) August 15, 2019

“I think all should come,” House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy Kevin Owen McCarthyMcCarthy says there will be a peaceful transition if Biden wins GOP lawmakers distance themselves from Trump comments on transfer of power McCarthy claims protests in Louisville, other cities are 'planned, orchestrated events' MORE (R-Calif.) said earlier this week.

Netanyahu defended his decision Thursday, saying it falls in line with a new Israeli law barring entry to any person who supports the so-called BDS movement.

“The two-member congressional visitation plan shows that their intent is to hurt Israel and increase its unrest against it,” Netanyahu said in a statement.

Both congresswomen voted against a nonbinding resolution last month condemning the BDS movement.

Omar and Tlaib’s trip, which was set to begin Sunday, was scheduled to take them to Bethlehem, Hebron, Ramallah and Jerusalem. Netanyahu said he would consider a possible humanitarian claim by Tlaib to visit her grandmother, who lives in the West Bank.