|
As many as 120,000 Arab Americans
Believed to be Adversely
Affected by Israeli Policy
http://www.aaiusa. org
WASHINGTON - Oct. 4, 2006 - The Arab American Institute (AAI) is
encouraging Arab Americans who have encountered problems or been
turned away when entering Israel and the Occupied Palestinian
Territories to report details to the State Department and AAI.
Those who have been affected by Israel's recently implemented visa
policy are urged to fill out the a consular form titled "Refusal of
Entry Information Sheet," which is available through American
Citizen Services at the office of the U.S. Consulate General in
Jerusalem.
Completed forms can be e-mailed to jerusalemvisa@ state.gov as well
as rabouchedid@ aaiusa.org.
AAI believes that firsthand accounts from Arab Americans about
difficulties in entering the region - believed to be as many as
120,000 - will help prompt the State Department to recognize the
widespread, discriminatory and adverse effects of the policy and
advocate for its change. AAI is also actively working with the
Consulate General in order to assist Arab Americans who have been
detained, turned away or harassed upon entry.
AAI is deeply troubled by this policy, which bars groups of
Americans from traveling through the region simply because of their
Palestinian ethnicity, and calls upon Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice to address the situation while she meets this week with Middle
Eastern leaders to work towards a peaceful solution to ongoing
conflict in the region.
For additional information about this developing situation, please
contact American Citizens Services in Jerusalem at 001-972-02-622-
7216 or jerusalemvisa@ state.gov or contact AAI at 202-429-9210.
|
