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Israel reverses decision to ban congresswoman from Palestine

ISRAEL carried out what has been described as “the sharpest reversal ever” after it granted a request by Democratic Representative Rashida Tlaib to enter the Israeli-occupied West Bank on humanitarian grounds.

Interior minister Aryeh Deri announced on Friday it was to allow Ms Tliab access to Palestine to visit relatives, including her-90 year old grandmother.

The decision overturned a ban on Ms Tlaib from visiting Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank with her fellow Congresswoman Ilhan Omar planned for next week.

They are sharp critics of Israeli government policy towards Palestinians and are deemed to be supporters of the global Boycott Divestment and Sanctions campaign.

A ban was imposed on the pair just hours after US President Donald Trump intervened to say that Israel would be showing “great weakness” if it allowed them entry.

The reversal came after Ms Tlaib wrote to the authorities saying it would be the last chance to see her grandmother and promised to respect any restrictions and “not promote boycotts” during her visit.

Mr Deri’s office said that he “decided to allow her entry to Israel and hopes she will stand by her commitment and that the visit will be for humanitarian needs only.”

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