Israel: Respect visiting Americans

Paterson, NJ: February 12, 2008: AAF cosponsors letter to Secretary Rice on Israel's maltreatment of visiting Arab Americans

American Arab Forum has agreed to sign onto a letter to US Secretary  of State Condoleezza Rice expressing concern over the treatment of Americans, especially those of Arab descent, entering in and traveling through Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories. A draft of the letter was circulated at the end of last month. The following is a revised and final version that reflects the submitted suggestions.

The letter seeks to communicate to the State Department the urgency and importance of resolving this matter and are therefore requesting the support of concerned Arab American organizations for the sentiments expressed.

Aref Assaf, President of AAF stated that the US can longer follow quite diplomatic pressure on Israel to end its discrimination against American Arabs.

Related stroy

Text of proposed letter to Secretary Rice

                                                                                                                February 12, 2008

The Honorable Condoleezza Rice
United States Secretary 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.

The Israeli Coordinator for Government Activities in the Territories (CoGaT) responded to our most recent complaint in December 2006 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 subsequently 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.)

Madame Secretary, we insist that you use your good office to ensure that American citizens of Arab descent are treated fairly by the Government of Israel. As treaty obligations require, American citizens of all backgrounds traveling to Israel and the oPt are entitled to the same treatment that Israeli citizens receive when visiting our country. This is not a matter for negotiation, nor should it be seen as part of the broader issue of a Middle East peace process; this is about our right to be treated as fully protected American citizens. 

Sincerely,

The Undersigned.