-Caveat Lector-

AMJ-JPPI Press Release

ISRAEL REFUSES ENTRY TO U.S. CONGRESSIONAL STAFF DELEGATION

Contact:  Josh Ruebner, JPPI, 962-79-664-8145 or
Khalid Turaani, AMJ, 962-79-567-4917

(Amman, Jordan, August 8, 2002)

Israel today refused entry to a nine-person U.S. Congressional staff
delegation co-sponsored by American Muslims for Jerusalem (AMJ) and Jews for
Peace in Palestine and Israel (JPPI).  This was to have been the first
Jewish-Muslim co-sponsored Congressional delegation to Palestine and Israel.
  The bi-partisan delegation planned to meet with Israeli and Palestinian
peace activists, American and international humanitarian organizations, and
U.S. government officials.

The delegation, which consisted of staffers from six Congressional offices
along with three AMJ and JPPI representatives, attempted to enter from
Jordan the Israeli-occupied West Bank via the Allenby Bridge.  After five
hours, Israeli security personnel informed the delegation that the Ministry
of Interior refused entry to the six Congressional staffers and the two AMJ
staff members.  The JPPI staff member, who is a dual American and Israeli
citizen, was not refused entry but chose to return to Jordan with the
remainder of the delegation.

While Israeli authorities held the passports of all nine members of the
delegation, an Israeli policeman, Alexander Frumin, implied that violence
might be used against the Congressional staff delegation, indicating that
the situation could lead to “blows.”

According to Josh Ruebner, co-founder of JPPI, “Members of Congress and the
American people should be outraged by Israel’s refusal to admit a
Congressional staff delegation.  This unprecedented slap in the face to
Members of Congress is Israel’s way of repaying the institution which gives
it $3 billion of tax-payer money every year.  What does Israel not want
Congress to see?”

Congressional staffers requested that the U.S. Consulate in East Jerusalem
intervene on behalf of the delegation.  They were informed that the
Consulate would intervene for everyone but the two American Muslims on the
delegation.  Khalid Turaani, Executive Director of AMJ, stated “I am
sickened that representatives of my government would condone Israel’s
blatant ethnic and religious profiling.  The State Department consistently
has winked at Israel’s pattern of discrimination against and intimidation of
American Muslims seeking to further peace and to provide humanitarian
assistance to Palestinians suffering under Israel’s brutal military
occupation.”

-END-

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