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A
delegation of American Muslims and Christians, denied entry into
Israel, wearily returned
to
Washington yesterday and said they were victims of "racial and
religious profiling." The
delegation of 17 Muslims and three Christians had been organized by
the Washington-
based American Muslims for Jerusalem (AMJ) to visit mosques and meet
with peace
activists in Israel and the Palestinian territories.
Israeli Occupation Authorities detained them at Ben Gurion Airport
for eight hours Sunday
before sending them back to the United States.
"Israel has a
well-documented history of discriminating against Muslims,"
said AMJ
program director Margaret Zaknoen. "Clearly they have something to
hide." Reverend
Olin
Knudsen, a Lutheran pastor and retired Air Force chaplain from
Dallas, joined the
delegation for the chance to engage in peace talks with ministers
from the Evangelical
Lutheran Church of Jordan.
Reverend Knudsen said he was refused water and threatened twice with
a "cavity search"
by female Israeli guards. "This weekend I learned
firsthand what it feels like to be
discriminated against," he said. The AMJ delegates
also said they had planned to
coordinate their activities with a partner group of 15 Americans
that arrived in Israel on
Saturday. "Another delegation flew in on Saturday,
with the same itinerary, and was
allowed to enter Jerusalem because it was Christian,"
said Mr. Knudsen. "But because
most of our group was Muslim, with only three
Christians, we were barred."
According to Miss Zaknoen, AMJ has asked the U.S. State Department
to file a formal
complaint with the Israeli government. Frederick Jones, a spokesman
for the State
Department, said that the case would undergo a thorough
investigation before any
diplomatic action is taken. "We will be following up
with the AMJ and with Israeli officials
regarding this incident," he said. An Israeli
Embassy spokesman yesterday defended the
decision.
This
type of targeting is part of an ongoing campaign of the Israeli
Occupation against
Muslims, and even peace activists in general. During the recent
events of the March to
May
siege laid upon the Palestinian people, the Israeli Occupation
Authority has deported,
shot
at, and confiscated the properties of peace activists, concerned
with the plight of the
Palestinians, regardless of religion or nationality. By targeting
these Muslim Americans,
the
Israeli Occupation Authorities have shown just how far their long
arm of influence can
reach.
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