President Trump’s unequivocal support for Israel is meant to advance the cause of peace: convincing Palestinians to abandon their dreams of the Jewish State’s destruction, and persuading Israelis to trust the USA in potential negotiations.

The recent controversy over a blocked trip to Israel by two Muslim Congresswomen undermines these goals—encouraging Palestinians to continue their refusal to enter those negotiations by conveying the idea that Omar and Tlaib represent a massive new wave of anti-Israel sentiment and Jew hatred.

At the same time, when support for Israel seems like a partisan political football, that worries Israelis. As much as many of them want Trump to win, they know that someday Democrats will inevitably return to power.

Worst of all, Omar and Tlaib got exactly what they wanted: abundant publicity for their radical rhetoric and a chance to pose as victims and martyrs.