| AMMAN,
JORDAN - August 8 - Israel today refused entry to a nine-person U.S. Congressional
staff delegation co-sponsored by American Muslims for Jerusalem (AMJ) and Jews
for Peace in Palestine and Israel (JPPI). This was to have been the first Jewish-Muslim
co-sponsored Congressional delegation to Palestine and Israel. The bi-partisan
delegation planned to meet with Israeli and Palestinian peace activists, American
and international humanitarian organizations, and U.S. government officials.
The delegation, which consisted of
staffers from six Congressional offices along with three AMJ and JPPI representatives,
attempted to enter from Jordan the Israeli-occupied West Bank via the Allenby
Bridge. After five hours, Israeli security personnel informed the delegation that
the Ministry of Interior refused entry to the six Congressional staffers and the
two AMJ staff members. The JPPI staff member, who is a dual American and Israeli
citizen, was not refused entry but chose to return to Jordan with the remainder
of the delegation.
While Israeli authorities held the
passports of all nine members of the delegation, an Israeli policeman, Alexander
Frumin, implied that violence might be used against the Congressional staff delegation,
indicating that the situation could lead to “blows.”
According to Josh Ruebner, co-founder
of JPPI, “Members of Congress and the American people should be outraged
by Israel’s refusal to admit a Congressional staff delegation. This unprecedented
slap in the face to Members of Congress is Israel’s way of repaying the
institution which gives it $3 billion of tax-payer money every year. What does
Israel not want Congress to see?”
Congressional staffers requested
that the U.S. Consulate in East Jerusalem intervene on behalf of the delegation.
They were informed that the Consulate would intervene for everyone but the two
American Muslims on the delegation. Khalid Turaani, Executive Director of AMJ,
stated “I am sickened that representatives of my government would condone
Israel’s blatant ethnic and religious profiling. The State Department consistently
has winked at Israel’s pattern of discrimination against and intimidation
of American Muslims seeking to further peace and to provide humanitarian assistance
to Palestinians suffering under Israel’s brutal military occupation.”
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