AAI leads delegation to protest restrictions in Americans in Occupied Territories

[ProgressiveMuslim]

Monday, March 17, 2008

AAI Leads Coalition to Deliver Letter to Secretary of State Rice Regarding American Entry Into Palestinian Territories

(snip)

Text of the letter to Secretary Rice:

March 14, 2008

The Honorable Condoleezza Rice
Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520

Dear Secretary Rice,

We are writing to express our continued concern over the treatment by the Government of Israel towards American citizens when attempting to legally enter the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt). This has been an issue for many decades now and is of special concern to Americans of Arab, and especially Palestinian, descent, many of whom have deep ties and family connections to those lands. The treatment of American citizens traveling to the oPt frequently involves burdensome bureaucratic requirements, if not outright harassment and humiliation, and indicates a pattern of discrimination and practices intended to deter visitors.

We have brought this matter to the attention of the Department of State several times, dating back at least thirty years. Past Administrations have expressed concern over this matter, but the efforts of our government have been ultimately ineffective. Today, the problem persists.

Americans citizens continue to be categorized by their ethnicity or religion and are treated according to this discriminatory ranking system by a country officially, and eagerly, regarded as an ally.

In November 2006, Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Maura Harty discussed this troubling matter with a group of legal advocates and community leaders, who subsequently submitted a formal complaint to the Israeli government. In December 2006, the Israeli Coordinator for Government Activities in the Territories (CoGaT) responded to this action by outlining new procedures for entry into the oPt, guaranteeing that denial of entry for American citizens would only be based on legitimate security concerns. A similar statement was then issued in March 2007 by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs to third party missions. Despite these official measures, documented cases indicate that, in practice, procedures used to determine which Americans may enter remain discriminatory, abusive, and internationally unlawful.

Specifically, documented cases from the past eight months indicate that Israel is trying to circumvent these revised procedures, opting instead to issue short-term visas for one or two weeks--not the customary three months--rather than denying visas outright. Review of this practice reveals that arbitrary standards are applied and there is widespread institutional bias against Americans of Arab descent, and particularly those of Palestinian ancestry. We urge you to call upon the Israeli government to employ a uniform standard of criteria when reviewing applications for entry into the oPt that recognizes the rights of all Americans and does not subjectively discriminate against Americans of Arab descent.

Whatever else may be at stake, it is clear that this action puts the Government of Israel in violation of the 1951 Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation Between the United States of America and Israel. Violated articles include particularly Article II, section 2; Article III, section 1; and Article XX in its entirety. (Article XXIII of the same Treaty makes clear that the oPt are covered under the terms of the Treaty.)

http://aatimesnews.blogspot.com/2008/03/arab-american-institute-leads.html

[ProgressiveMuslim]

1. Clearly, some "Americans" are more equal than others. nt

[MaryCeleste]

21. Its a process they apply to citizens of all nations

[Vegasaurus]

2. I hope people are equally outraged by the fact that anyone with an Israeli

passport stamp cannot visit any of the Arab countries except Egypt and Jordan.

Israelis cannot even enter most of the Arab countries, so no burdensome bureaucratic requirements, just flat out rejection. And no short term or long term visas are discussed, as Jewish Israelis are just kept out completely.

[breakaleg]

3. And how does this relate to the US and its relationship with Israel? It doesn't.

[Vegasaurus]

9. Israel is a sovereign nation

and can make its own decisions about who to let in and not, same as the Arab countries.

Are Israelis bellyaching to the US to force Saudi Arabia or the UAE to let them in? It's the same argument. Only in this case, the Arab Americans just have to go through a little more hassle to get into Israel. The Israeli Jews are flat out refused entry into the Arab countries. It's typical that the parallel would go over your head.

[Violet_Crumble]

14. The article's about entry to the Occupied Territories, not Israel...n/t

[breakaleg]

20. This is about how Israel is treating SOME US citizens differently than others.

It's perfectly legit for these Americans to "bellyache" to their own country for fair treatment abroad. Especially in a country that is supposed to be a "friend" to the US and those very same US citizens.

Whereas the scenario you are talking about, again, has to do with Israelis and Saudi Arabia. See, there was no mention of the US in there? No connection.

You are a piece of work.

[oberliner]

33. What about Israeli-Americans or Americans who have visited Israel?

Would that scenario be more analogous?

It is my understanding that Americans who were born in Israel or even Americans whose passports indicate that they have visited Israel are barred from entry to countries that are ostensibly "friendly" to the US (i.e. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain).

[Vegasaurus]

40. Americans with Israeli passport stamps are not welcome in Arab countries either

Not just Israelis.

[azurnoir]

4. So you are OK with American citizens

being treated differently because of their ethnic background? Are not all American citizens supposed to treated as equals? Does Israel get special dispensation?

[MaryCeleste]

5. What you are complaining about is profiling, which is common in many countries

There is nothing in the law that requires all Americans are supposed to be treated the same in foreign countries.

[ProgressiveMuslim]

7. Imagine our government's response if Americans of Jewish background were subject to a different

set of laws based solely upon their ethnic or religious background.

Imagine if France said... any American can come here for 3 months. American Jews can't come at all or can come only for one week.

There would be a hue and cry so loud the heavens would open up.

[Vegasaurus]

10. American Jews don't pose a threat to French national security

Palestinians have proven that they pose a very grave threat to Israeli security. Therein lies the difference.

[Violet_Crumble]

15. And Arab-Americans don't pose a threat to Israeli national security...

The article's about American citizens, not Palestinians....

[LeftishBrit]

17. As I understand, this isn't about Palestinians but about Americans of Arab descent..

which makes it much more dodgy.

As I've said in other posts, it's difficult to stop countries from ethnic discrimination against tourists, given that technically no one has a *right* to be a tourist in any other country (ETA: unless there is an agreement between the countries involved, as in the case of the EU). And it happens everywhere - including the UK and America - not just Israel. But we should certainly speak strongly against it.

[LeftishBrit]

11. It DOES happen in many Arab countries; and there's no hue and cry

[Violet_Crumble]

13. List these 'many Arab countries' that it happens to Americans in...n/t

[LeftishBrit]

16. I should not have said 'many'; I was thinking specifically of Saudi Arabia..

I was posting below my usual level of precision (apologies), as I don't really know how many other Arab governments practice discrimination against Jewish visitors. I have Jewish friends who HAVE visited Egypt, so clearly it's possible there.

But certainly there is very little 'hue and cry' about Saudi Arabia - on this or many other issues.

[Violet_Crumble]

18. Yeah, Saudi Arabia's the only one I can think of...

I'm assuming any country that practices discrimination against visitors based on religion or ethnicity would have some questions in the visa application that'd set the alarm bells ringing eg asking for religion. I haven't needed a visa for most countries I've visited, but I'd flat out refuse to travel anywhere where I got asked questions about my religion or ethnicity...

[ProgressiveMuslim]

19. There are no American Jews working in SA? nt

[Violet_Crumble]

45. Actually, my call might have been hasty...

I honestly don't know since no-one's ever been interested in providing any evidence that Jews are barred from working in Saudi Arabia...

[oberliner]

36. Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar will not allow anyone whose passports show evidence of a visit to Israel...

to enter their country.

I believe there are others as well.

[MaryCeleste]

37. I have had to change passports a few times for that reason

[shaayecanaan]

38. If you've had to change it more than once, you're a bit slow on the uptake

Mostly, you simply ask the Israeli passports officer to put the stamp on a separate piece of paper, stapled or stuck to the inside of your passport. They usually oblige - after all, they've got as much interest in circumventing the boycott as you do.

[Douglas Carpenter]

39. Exactly,"everyone" does that. This was the same procedure during South African apartheid days

During that period all Arab and most African countries were observing a boycott of South Africa. Anyone who had a South African stamp in their passport were not permitted to enter any Arab or most African countries.

When that conflict was settled, the boycott stopped and along with it that procedure.

Still the Israeli customs have no hesitation whatsoever about obliging to stamp the visa on a piece of paper to be kept with the passport rather than stamping the visa in the passport.

Americans who visit Cuba (that I have never done - but know people) also must ask the Cuban customs to stamp the visa on a piece of paper rather than in their passport - if they want to avoid a big hassle later,

[Vegasaurus]

41. Except if you have an Israeli passport

not an American one, you can't get into these countries, no matter what. No stamp on the piece of paper will change those facts. Isn't this racism?

[shaayecanaan]

42. The usual bullshit applies

There's no element of a ban on Jewish or Westerners per se, Syria is quite hungry for foreign currency and will take all the visitors to Damascus castle that it can get.

Things might be different in Saudi, to tell the truth I have never been there and have no desire to go.

[Vegasaurus]

49. Try to go to any Arab country with an Israeli passport

or an Israeli visa stamp. Good luck with that.

There is absolutely a ban on visitors with these passports or stamps, no matter what you think about foreign currency.

[shaayecanaan]

50. yes

but for the most part, its Arabs from Israel who want to visit these places (in the same way that most Israeli visitors to Egypt are Arabs).

And, as Ive indicated, Syria doesnt have any restrictions on Jewish or Western visitors. You see quite a few Americans around the old Jewish quarter in Damascus, I suspect they might even market packaged tours .

BTW, I'll happily agree to travel on an Israeli passport if you agree to travel on a Palestinian one. Even in those few dozen countries which recognise them, its generally a toin coss as to whether you get in or not.

Incidentally, do you consider Israel to be an apartheid state? If not, why not?

[Vegasaurus]

52. But perhaps Israelis would like to visit their former homelands

you know, the ones from which they were expelled, and where many had many generations of family.

But they aren't allowed.

Do you think that they should have the right to visit their ancestral homes? If not, why not?

[shaayecanaan]

53. Perhaps Palestinians would like to visit theirs

and until that issue is resolved, I imagine the boycott will continue.

And if the former policy is racist, then the latter must surely be. Wouldnt you agree?

[shaayecanaan]

43. Some people do get caught out once...

but as I said, you generally learn after that. The Syrians are very coy about it though, even an unexplained gap in your passport can tip them off.

[MaryCeleste]

44. First time I was young, more recently I just forgot and felt all the more stupid for it

[shaayecanaan]

51. But of course...

although "two" is generally understood to be less than "a few". I'll put it down to the general viccisitudes of age. Cheers.

[Violet_Crumble]

46. That's a long stretch from a claim that Jews are barred from countries...

And it's nothing at all similar to what the OP is about, which is based on an American citizen's ethnic background. What's yr opinion on the OP, Oberliner? Do you think this sort of treatment is discriminatory?

[oberliner]

48. Israeli-Americans are barred from entering countries that are ostensibly "friendly" to the US

Is that not discriminatory?

As the the OP, I'd have to have more information, such as the Israeli government's response to the letter, more specific information as to the incidents alluded to in the letter, etc. If it is documented that an American was given a shorter visa for no other reason than the fact that he was an Arab-American, then certainly that is discriminatory.

[Violet_Crumble]

54. They are not barred from entering those countries using their US passports n/t.

[MaryCeleste]

55. Really? Having seen it first hand, I would disagree with you

If you are identified as a Jew, Israeli or otherwise, you will not be admitted in to ME muslim countries

[Violet_Crumble]

56. Oh, well. If *you* say so, it MUST be true!

Let's just dispense with facts and instead sit here and listen to whatever today's convenient bullshit anecdotal story is. The other day it was a bullshit story about how the rest of the world thinks the US is silly for not using racial profiling, and today it's 'Forget the facts! I know better!!'

[LeftishBrit]

12. I am not happy about ethnic discrimination anywhere...

but many countries practice it, officially or unofficially, with regard to admitting visitors, and it's hard to prevent it. The UK tends to put more bureaucracy in the way of people from poorer countries, whom they think might decide to stay here and not go back; and racism certainly gets mixed up in this. I strongly oppose such policies everywhere; but Israel does not have 'a special dispensation'.

[azurnoir]

23. The US does similar things too

but this is singling out a group, not the entire country. There is also the factor that Israel is a close ally, and even more offensive the US government is apparently fine with this and advises "contact the American consulate", an almost laughable piece of advise, as they are powerless to much except take names. It speaks droves as to our governments attitude about just who is really American. This seems to be the roll over of at least one recent case. Also Israel is not barring entry they are making it difficult to leave, which puts a different spin on this.

Note I would also be offended if an EU country was to put similar restrictions on any other American citizens because of their ethnic background.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=124&topic_id=183953

[LeftishBrit]

32. Here's the latest horror story from the UK

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/mar/20/immigration.immigrationandpublicservices

And you can bet this wouldn't have happened if she'd been white.

[azurnoir]

34. Thank you

the US has done things similar to that too, or at least attempted it. I was a witness to it in the aftermath of 9/11 when I was working in the bone marrow transplant clinic at the university of Minnesota.
To deport someone undergoing medical treatment on visa issues is unconscionable.
My heart goes out to her children.

[MaryCeleste]

22. No, there is no such expectation

Israel gives everyone entering those areas extra scrutiny. They to it to all nationalities, not just Arab Americans.

[azurnoir]

24. This is not an issue about entry

Israel is making it difficult to leave, which makes the "security" issue questionable.

[MaryCeleste]

25. Actually its both

It can be a pain to get in, and a pain to leave.

One of the main concerns seems to be the potential of items being carried in to Israel or through TLV. By making people leave through Jordan, it minimizes that.

[azurnoir]

27. Huh?

I f the concern is what is carried in, and I am sure the security checks in Tel Aviv are extensive, then what sense does making leaving difficult make.

[MaryCeleste]

29. TLV security is about as good as it gets, but its not perfect

But the concern is that some inovative way to carry a destructive device will be found that will get past the screening. That is the rationale for forcing people to exit through Jordan

[MaryCeleste]

6. Its a sovreignity issue

The article claims it is internationally unlawful without citation.

[ProgressiveMuslim]

8. It is Israel's right. But our gov't should stand behind its own citizens is the point.

[MaryCeleste]

26. If it is Israel's right, why should it?

[ProgressiveMuslim]

28. Israel is free to act as racist as it pleases.

That doesn't mean the civilized world should approve of it.

[MaryCeleste]

30. Its not racist, its profiling

and its the norm in the civilized world. Its not allowed in the US, which most of the world thinks is just dumb.

Also Arab/Muslim/Palestinian are not a race, so the term racist is not appropriate

[msmcghee]

31. I agree with your first point . .

. . but while you are technically right that "Arab/Muslim/Palestinian are not a race" - the term "racism" is commonly used in most discussion forums to mean ethnic bigotry of any kind. I think we might as well accept it.

[ProgressiveMuslim]

35. Profiling IS racist, at least according to most DEMOCRATS.

What's the difference between discriminating again Arab Americans or African Americans?

[Violet_Crumble]

47. Where the hell do you get off talking about the rest of the world?

I'm from a little bit of the 'rest of the world' and my country does NOT indulge in racial profiling for the obvious reason (at least it's obvious to all but US conservatives) racial profiling is racist. I'll tell you what the reaction was in general here when the US was going on about racial profiling there - people were disgusted at the depths the Bush administration was taking yr country to...

And Arabs are considered to be a race...