Posted on 10/18/2006 7:01:35 AM PDT by Esther Ruth
US: Israel discriminating against Americans
Secretary of State Rice instructs State Department to file official complaint against Israel, saying country caused problems for US citizens of Palestinian origin and limited their entry, exit of territories
Itamar Eichner
The US State Department filed an official complaint against the Israeli government Tuesday at the Israeli Embassy in Washington, saying that Israel caused problems for American citizens of Palestinian origin and limited their entry and exit of the territories.
The complaint was filed following instructions from US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice herself. American sources claimed Israel implemented a new and deliberate policy that discriminated against American citizens.
The wave of complaints on the matter began in April 2006. Many of the complainants were wealthy American citizens of Palestinian origin who responded to calls of the American government to assist in the rebuilding of the Palestinian Authority and to invest in its economy.
The American embassy in Israel said Tuesday, “We are aware that citizens experience difficulties in entering and leaving the West Bank and Gaza, but we have not received information about an official change in Israel’s policies. We’ll leave it to Israel to explain its policies.”
WHAT? We should be taking notes.
This sounds perfectly sensible to me. I, as an American, have no problem with it at all.
What's the other half of their dual citizenship show?
I agree. If any lefty Israelis want to play kissie-face with Palestinians, they can come to the US and do it! :^)
I cannot for the life of me understand our position on the "palistinian" issue. We hear over and over how their needs to be an "honest broker" in the conflict. I disagree. There is a party that is in the right, Israel, a nation trying to defend itself from the most vile attacks. There is a side in the wrong, the pali terrorists, the "moderate" terrorists, Abbas and his group, and the really, really bad terrorists, Hamas and cohorts. I don't see any need to be even handed in dealing with them. I think that's ridiculous. My two cents.
Correction they are not Americans.........they are moslims.
Makes sense to me.....Americans have a long history of activism against their own country so why take the chance?
Simple, it's pro-palestinian. They're occupied after all, and we need to get a state up an running within 2 years.
" Maybe Condi is just confused."
Nah, she wants Israel to have "open borders" like we do!
Condi is joining the Wahabi branch of the Government.
Maybe they see the establishment of a Palestinian state as the only way to remove, once and for all, any legitimacy from the never ending complaints. I'm trying to hold on to some faint hope here, I know.
Nowhere in the article are these people -- your fellow American citizens -- are terrorists or even accused of such. I say, good for Condi for standing up for all American citizens.
If the Israelis have proof that these people are assisting in terrorism, then that's one thing. From the way the article reads, it appears that they are opposing them simply for being Palestinians trying to help other Palestinians. And if there's no terrorism link (that is, a REAL terrorism link, not the racist, bigoted paranoia exhibited daily on FR), then the Israelis are way out of bounds. If they want to keep discriminating against Americans, well, that is their prerogative... and it's our prerogative to just keep the $3 billion we give them every year.
Interesting. How very unAmerican of you.
>>Israel caused problems for American citizens of Palestinian origin and limited their entry and exit of the territories.<<
"Innocent" Americans like Rachel Corrie?
Look at the founding documents and public statements of both the PLO and Hamas. The state they're after includes Israel. Jordan too. The current iniative for a state is simply to gain a platform to mobilize Arab forces for another attack. It's official PLO policy, has been for over 30 years. BTW, 5 and 6, the unification with Jordan doesn't necessarily have to be peaceful.
1- To reaffirm the Palestine Liberation Organization's previous attitude to Resolution 242, which obliterates the national right of our people and deals with the cause of our people as a problem of refugees. The Council therefore refuses to have anything to do with this resolution at any level, Arab or international, including the Geneva Conference.
2-The Liberation Organization will employ all means, and first and foremost armed struggle, to liberate Palestinian territory and to establish the independent combatant national authority for the people over every part of Palestinian territory that is liberated. This will require further changes being effected in the balance of power in favour of our people and their struggle.
3-The Liberation Organization will struggle against any proposal for a Palestinian entity the price of which is recognition, peace, secure frontiers, renunciation of national rights and the deprival of our people of their right to return and their right to self-determination on the soil of their homeland.
4-Any step taken towards liberation is a step towards the realization of the Liberation Organization's strategy of establishing the democratic Palestinian state specified in the resolutions of previous Palestinian National Councils.
5-Struggle along with the Jordanian national forces to establish a Jordanian-Palestinian national front whose aim will be to set up in Jordan a democratic national authority in close contact with the Palestinian entity that is established through the struggle.
6-The Liberation Organization will struggle to establish unity in struggle between the two peoples and between all the forces of the Arab liberation movement that are in agreement on this programme.
7-In the light of this programme, the Liberation Organization will struggle to strengthen national unity and to raise it to the level where it will be able to perform its national duties and tasks.
8-Once it is estabished, the Palestinian national authority will strive to achieve a union of the confrontation countries, with the aim of completing the liberation of all Palestinian territory, and as a step along the road to comprehensive Arab unity. The Liberation Organization will strive to strengthen its solidarity with the socialist countries, and with forces of liberation and progress throughout the world, with the aim of frustration all the schemes of Zionism, reaction and imperialism.
9-In light of this programme, the leadership of the revolution will determine the tactics which will serve and make possible the realization of these objectives.
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