Arab Americans Complain to Clinton About Israeli 'Discrimination'
The Arab American Institute (AAI) wrote Thursday to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to request a meeting with her to discuss how to stop Israel’s alleged discrimination of Arab American travelers.
AAI President James Zogby and Chairman George Salem said in the letter that such travelers face “burdensome bureaucratic requirements, if not outright harassment and humiliation” during visits to Israel or the Palestinian territories.
In the letter, according to a copy released to the media, the pair said the treatment “indicates a clear pattern of discrimination and practices intended to deter and encumber visitors.”
In requesting the meeting, the pair expressed their “deep concern” over the treatment given visitors trying to legally enter or exit Israel, the West Bank, Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.
The pair recalled that the Washington-based group, which serves as the political and policy research arm of the Arab American community, has brought the matter to each secretary of state for the last three decades.
“They, in turn, have raised this issue with the Israeli government at the highest diplomatic levels,” the letter said.
“Despite these efforts, the United States has been unable to guarantee safe and equal access, egress and passage for all American citizens traveling to Israel, the West Bank, Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip,” it added.
The letter mentioned what it said were documented cases of discrimination from the last eight months.
These include, it said, “Arab Americans trapped in Gaza and prohibited from exiting into Israel; American-born Palestinians forced to surrender their US passports on entry and receive, against their will, a Palestinian ID document.”
It also referred to “numerous reports from American-born US citizens of Palestinian descent or Arab heritage being singled out for prolonged questioning on entry and departure, and burdensome and discriminatory visa requirements imposed upon Palestinian Americans severely impacting their families and businesses.”
The letter said the AAI has benefitted from the support of personnel from several State Department offices.
AFP