- AMMAN - 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.
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- The bi-partisan delegation planned to meet with Israeli
and Palestinian peace activists, American and international humanitarian
organizations, and U.S. government officials.
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- 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.
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- 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."
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- 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?"
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- 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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