(WASHINGTON, D.C., 8/8/23) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today alerted the State Department to multiple instances of the Israeli government singling out and discriminating against American citizens of Palestinian descent attempting to travel to Israel and Palestine, including a Virginia restaurant owner and a family from Ohio.
In two separate letters sent to U.S. Special Representative for Palestinian Affairs Hady Amr and Chief of the U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs in Jerusalem George Noll, CAIR detailed entry denials and other severe challenges Americans of Palestinian descent experienced solely because of their ethnicity or birthplace while traveling to the country or through checkpoints within the country during the recently initiated six-week review period for Israel’s entry into the U.S. Visa Waiver Program.
In a statement, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said:
“The blatant incidents of discrimination against American citizens simply because of their Palestinian descent indicate that the Israeli government is not upholding its obligations under the visa waiver. If the Israeli government is abusing Palestinian-American travelers during this trial period, we can only imagine what it would do if they fully enter the waiver program without any monitoring.”
Case One: Denial of Entry for Gazan-American Citizen at Ben Gurion Airport and Continued Harassment at Allenby Bridge Border Crossing
In the first ongoing case, on July 27, an American citizen born in Gaza was separated from his family while attempting to enter Israel with his wife and children through Ben Gurion Airport to the West Bank. While his family was allowed to enter through the airport, Israeli immigration authorities claimed that the newly announced trial program for Israel to enter the U.S. Visa Waiver Program did not apply to Americans born in Gaza.
Instead, he was instructed by Israeli authorities to attempt to enter Israel through the Allenby Bridge crossing. At his own expense, this individual flew from the airport to Turkey and then to Jordan, where he arrived on July 28. However, on July 28 and August 3, Israeli authorities denied this American citizen the ability to cross over from Jordan to Israel to reunite with his family in the West Bank, solely because he was born in Gaza. Unless the State Department intervenes, this person will fly back to the U.S. this coming weekend.
Case Two: Harassment, Separation of Palestinian American Family at Hizma Checkpoint on Sunday, August 6
In another case, on August 6, an American family with four children traveling to Jaffa for a beach holiday was detained, harassed, and subsequently separated for an hour from one of their children by Israeli soldiers at the Hizma checkpoint.
The American Palestinian parents were traveling with three of their children in one car, while their fourth child was traveling behind them in a separate car with the child’s paternal aunt (also an American citizen). Despite presenting their American passports, which included an US Tourism Approval in Israel stamp, only the first car was let through the checkpoint, while the second car was diverted to the Qalandia checkpoint, a notorious checkpoint that, when crossed on foot, requires passing through a series of fence-caged corridor gates.
The family’s 9-year-old son, along with his American Palestinian aunt, was forced to go through the Qalandia checkpoint, leading to a frightening hour long separation from his parents.
REPORT TRAVEL DISCRIMINATION
AJP Action and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) last week issued a public advisory calling on all Palestinian-Americans, Arab-Americans, Iranian-Americans, and American Muslims – including those with dual citizenship – traveling to and through Israeli ports of entry open to tourist travel to report to the U.S. Jerusalem Embassy, then AJP Action and CAIR, all instances of discriminatory and religious profiling, extra security checks, prolonged secondary screening, other restrictions on free movement by Israeli authorities, or other abuses while traveling.
CLICK HERE: U.S. Jerusalem Embassy Reporting Form
CLICK HERE: AJP Action Reporting Form (Note: Complete After Filling out Jerusalem Embassy Form)
AJP Action and CAIR are following-up with the Department of State on all confirmed reported cases of such traveler discrimination. AJP Action and CAIR remain concerned that Palestinian and other Americans will still be subject to discriminatory treatment at Israeli border crossings and internal checkpoints.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com