Jamaal Bowman, a representative from New York, sent a letter, co-signed by 11 of his Democratic colleagues, to the secretaries of state, homeland security, and education calling for an inquiry into the restrictive new rules. They were announced by the Israeli Defense Ministry’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, which functions as the de-facto Israeli military government in the Occupied Territories. Objections to this center on allegations of Israeli discrimination against American citizens of Palestinian or Arab descent who are subjected to intrusive searches and often denied entry to the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The Visa Waiver Program includes statutory requirements that must be met before any country is considered for inclusion. “The Biden administration must take concrete steps to ensure that the Israeli government does not implement this ordinance,” he said.

Source: The North Africa Journal June 03, 2022 20:20 UTC