Trump defends Israel move to bar congresswomen

The Israeli government said that it will not allow two US Muslim lawmakers who support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement to enter the country.

Morristown:US President Donald Trump defended Israel's decision to bar two US Democratic members of Congress from visiting the country, even as he claimed he didn't "encourage or discourage" the move.

Trump told reporters on Thursday that he "did speak to people over there" regarding the decision, but said he was "only involved from the standpoint that they're very anti-Jewish and very anti-Israel".

Israel announced earlier on Thursday that it had taken the unprecedented move of barring a visit by US Representatives Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota over their criticism of the country.

Trump had tweeted before the announcement that it would "show great weakness" to let them in.

Tlaib and Omar are outspoken critics of Israel's treatment of the Palestinians and have repeatedly sparred with Trump.