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AAI in the News

Report Israel Entry Problems, Group Says

Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Posted on Friday October 6, 2006

Arab Americans turned away from Israel’s border should report the matter to the U.S. State Department, an advocacy group said.

The Arab American Institute “is deeply troubled by this policy, which bars groups of Americans from traveling through the region simply because of their Palestinian ethnicity,” the institute said this week. AAI said as many as 120,000 Arab Americans could be affected by recent Israeli policy, which effectively bars citizens of foreign lands holding Palestinian papers from entering. The policy has been in effect since March, when the Hamas terrorist group assumed control of the Palestinian Authority government.

Under previous agreements, Israel must seek the approval of P.A. officials before allowing in Palestinians with dual nationality, but Israel will have nothing to do with the Hamas-led government. The dilemma is hampering family reunions and the distribution of charitable funds in Palestinian areas.