- Review period initiated for Israel’s entry into U.S. Visa Waiver Program; CAIR to monitor treatment of Muslim, Iranian, Palestinian, and Arab American travelers.
- AJP Action and CAIR’s ongoing efforts to seek justice and protection for Palestinian-Americans facing violence and discrimination in Israel.
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 8/4/23) – AJP Action and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) are 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 will follow-up with the Department of State on all confirmed reported cases of such traveler discrimination.
On April 19, the United States and Israel signed an MOU outlining the terms and conditions for Israel’s entry into the U.S. Visa Waiver Program.
SEE: U.S. and Israel agree on conditions that could see Israelis join visa waiver program (axios.com)
As part of the agreement, Israel will undergo a review period of four to six weeks, during which Israel has launched a pilot program that will reportedly treat Iranian, Palestinian, and other Arab-American travelers equally as Americans of other ethnic or nationality backgrounds visiting Israel.
By September 30, the U.S. will assess the results of this review to determine Israel’s eligibility for the U.S. Visa Waiver Program. AJP Action and CAIR will follow-up on any verified complaints that it receives to the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State before this deadline.
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.
AJP Action and CAIR do not believe that the Israeli government qualifies to enter the U.S. Visa Waiver Program because it is an apartheid government that has maintained a track record of systematically discriminating against American citizens of Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim backgrounds for decades. A month-long trial is not efficient enough to address all core issues of reciprocity with ports of entry into Palestine as well as internally, initiating a trial period now is premature and does not work to protect US citizens.
Even the U.S. State Department acknowledges that “some U.S. citizens of Arab or Muslim heritage (including Palestinian-Americans) have experienced significant difficulties and unequal and occasionally hostile treatment at Israel’s borders and checkpoints.”
Background
Under this test period, all U.S. citizens should now enter the Israel through all ports of entry, including Ben Gurion Airport.
Palestinian Americans not residing in the occupied territories will be permitted to enter Israel and the West Bank as tourists. However, those living in the West Bank will need to use a specialized app to obtain an entry permit for a 90-day stay in Israel.
Previously, Palestinian Americans from the West Bank had to go through Jordan to enter the occupied territory due to limitations on direct entry into Israel.
However, the 700 Palestinian Americans residing in Gaza will not have direct access to Israel from Gaza. Instead, according to other news reports, American citizens in Gaza who wish to travel out of the area can apply for a permit to use the Erez Crossing into Israel. This process resembles the one completed by non-American Gazans working in Israel. However, the MOU does not specify which airport in Israel they can use once they arrive.
American-Palestinian-Gazan travelers would not have access to the Ben Gurion airport in Israel. Americans attempting to travel to Gaza under this trial program would go through the Allenby border crossing between Israel and Jordan, facilitated by a special shuttle service operated by the Palestinian Authority. To exit Gaza, they would also need to commute through the Allenby Crossing, and after that, they would be able to fly out of Amman, Jordan.
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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, [email protected]; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, [email protected]