Congressional lawmakers wasted no time Thursday lashing out at President Trump Donald John TrumpSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Pelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Trump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance MORE for his support of Israel's decision to block a pair of Muslim American Democrats from visiting, warning that the highly unusual move threatens to upend relations between the United States and its long-standing Middle East ally.

The president has long feuded with Reps. 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.) and 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.), two outspoken progressive freshmen, over their criticisms of Israel’s treatment of Palestinians in disputed territories it occupies, including the Gaza Strip and West Bank.

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But even by Trump’s combative standards, the decision to side with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Benjamin (Bibi) NetanyahuMORE over two sitting U.S. members of Congress, who had planned a trip to Israel next week, marked a startling departure from traditional foreign-policy protocols, sparking a fierce backlash on Capitol Hill.

“Israel should stand up to President Trump and allow our colleagues to visit,” tweeted Michigan Rep. Justin Amash Justin AmashInternal Democratic poll shows tight race in contest to replace Amash Centrist Democrats 'strongly considering' discharge petition on GOP PPP bill On The Trail: How Nancy Pelosi could improbably become president MORE, a Palestinian American who left the Republican Party this year after declaring Trump should be impeached.

“Nobody has to agree with their opinions, but it will inevitably harm U.S.-Israel relations if members of Congress are banned from the country,” Amash added. “We must find ways to come together; there’s enough division.”

Democrats quickly piled on, issuing waves of statements blasting the decision — and Trump’s advocacy for it — as a dangerous development that only empowers “those who seek to create a wedge between our two countries," in the words of Rep. Nita Lowey Nita Sue LoweyTop House Democrats call for watchdog probe into Pompeo's Jerusalem speech With Biden, advocates sense momentum for lifting abortion funding ban Progressives look to flex their muscle in next Congress after primary wins MORE (D-N.Y.), the Jewish chairwoman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee.

“This is a grave mistake by the Israeli government,” echoed Rep. David Cicilline David Nicola CicillineClark rolls out endorsements in assistant Speaker race Races heat up for House leadership posts The folly of Cicilline's 'Glass-Steagall for Tech' MORE (R.I.), the head of the Democrats’ messaging arm, who is also Jewish. “Democracy is about accepting that others don’t always share your views and respecting the right to disagree.”

A number of 2020 Democratic hopefuls, including Sens. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersThe Hill's Campaign Report: Trump faces backlash after not committing to peaceful transition of power Bernie Sanders: 'This is an election between Donald Trump and democracy' The Hill's 12:30 Report: Trump stokes fears over November election outcome MORE (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenHillicon Valley: Subpoenas for Facebook, Google and Twitter on the cards | Wray rebuffs mail-in voting conspiracies | Reps. raise mass surveillance concerns On The Money: Anxious Democrats push for vote on COVID-19 aid | Pelosi, Mnuchin ready to restart talks | Weekly jobless claims increase | Senate treads close to shutdown deadline Democratic senators ask inspector general to investigate IRS use of location tracking service MORE (D-Mass.), also raised objections.

“Israel doesn't advance its case as a tolerant democracy or unwavering US ally by barring elected members of Congress from visiting because of their political views,” Warren tweeted. “This would be a shameful, unprecedented move. I urge Israel’s government to allow @IlhanMN and @RashidaTlaib entry.”

Jeremy Ben-Ami, the president of J Street, a liberal pro-Israel group, blasted both Trump and Netanyahu, saying the decision to block the lawmakers' visit is "dangerous, unacceptable and wrong."

"As sitting Members of Congress representing hundreds of thousands of Americans in their districts, Reps. Omar and Tlaib have the same right as every one of their colleagues to visit Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory," Ben-Ami said in an email.

"It is an affront to Congress and the American people and does severe damage to the US-Israel relationship -- and it must be reversed immediately."

Tlaib, the daughter of Palestinian immigrants, and Omar, who came to the U.S. as a refugee from Somalia, were scheduled to visit Israel on Sunday, as part of a fact-finding trip that would include stops in regions controlled by the Palestinian Authority. The decision to block their entrance into Israel, finalized Thursday morning, marked a stunning reversal for Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer, who vowed last month to allow their visit “out of respect for the U.S. Congress.”

Netanyahu is facing a new election in just over a month, leading to suggestions that he barred the visit by Tlaib and Omar simply to curry favor from his fractured conservative base.

Trump’s tweet also was an embarrassment for two top House leaders — Majority Leader Steny Hoyer Steny Hamilton HoyerOn The Money: Anxious Democrats push for vote on COVID-19 aid | Pelosi, Mnuchin ready to restart talks | Weekly jobless claims increase | Senate treads close to shutdown deadline Vulnerable Democrats tell Pelosi COVID-19 compromise 'essential' Anxious Democrats amp up pressure for vote on COVID-19 aid MORE (D-Md.) and 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.) — who earlier this week stood shoulder-to-shoulder at a Jerusalem news conference and agreed that Israel should not block Omar and Tlaib from visiting.

McCarthy was traveling in the Middle East on Thursday and his office had no immediate comment on the president’s tweet. During that news conference in Jerusalem, McCarthy said that he personally has never heard Trump say that Omar and Tlaib should be barred from Israel.

“I think all should come,” the GOP leader said.

But McCarthy chided Omar, Tlaib and other members of the so-called “squad” — four freshman progressive women — for failing to join the bipartisan Hoyer-McCarthy congressional delegation that met with Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

More than 40 lawmakers of both parties joined the delegation, an annual trip sponsored by the American Israel Education Foundation, an arm of the powerful Israel lobby AIPAC that Omar and Tlaib have been critical of.

"They did not come on the trip with their colleagues,” McCarthy told Fox News’s Bret Baier during an interview from Israel Wednesday night. "There’s a number of Democrats that still stand with Israel, but this new socialist Democrat group ... has a much different belief."

Just 12 hours later, amid reports that Israel was poised to deny entry for Omar and Tlaib, Trump took to Twitter to attack the two Democratic women.

“It would show great weakness if Israel allowed Rep. Omar and Rep.Tlaib to visit,” Trump tweeted Thursday morning. “They hate Israel & all Jewish people, & there is nothing that can be said or done to change their minds. Minnesota and Michigan will have a hard time putting them back in office. They are a disgrace!”

Tlaib and Omar are among a small band of House Democrats who support the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement, an international campaign designed to press Israel on human rights issues surrounding the long-running Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Their position has put them at odds with party leaders and a vast majority of their House colleagues, who last month approved a nonbinding resolution condemning the BDS movement as an effort to delegitimize Israel's very existence.

Seventeen Democrats, including Tlaib and Omar, opposed the measure.

Democrats rushing to their defense on Thursday said those policy differences should have no bearing on the pair’s right to visit Israel.

“The close relationship enjoyed by the United States and Israel should extend to all its government representatives, regardless of their views on specific issues or policies,” said Rep. Jerrold Nadler Jerrold (Jerry) Lewis NadlerDemocrats shoot down talk of expanding Supreme Court Schumer: 'Nothing is off the table' if GOP moves forward with Ginsburg replacement Top Democrats call for DOJ watchdog to probe Barr over possible 2020 election influence MORE (D-N.Y.), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.