http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/u-s-refuses-to-grant-visa-to-israeli-mk-due-to-his-membership-in-terror-group-1.414456
a.. Published 20:54 23.02.12
b.. Latest update 20:54 23.02.12
U.S. refuses to grant visa to Israeli MK due to his membership in 'terror group'
National Union MK Michael Ben Ari believes he was barred from U.S. for being a
member of far-right Kach organization, says in response that this type of 'U.S.
blindness' is what brought about the 9/11 attacks.
By Jonathan Lis Tags: Israel US Israel terrorism
The U.S. government refused to grant a visa to National Union MK Michael Ben
Ari, on the basis of his membership in a "terror organization."
Ben Ari recently submitted a request to the U.S. consulate for a visa, so he
could take part in two conferences held in the United States this week, one
aimed at encouraging aliyah to Israel.
MK Michael Ben Ari (National Union) speaking in the Knesset, November
14, 2011.
Photo by: Emil Salman
In response, however, he was told that he cannot be granted the visa based on a
clause that allows the U.S. State Department to prohibit the entrance of people
who were involved in terror activities or were members of a terror organization
in a foreign country. Ben Ari believes that the U.S. government is referring to
his membership in the Kach movement, a far-right political movement that is
considered a terror organization in Israel, Canada, the European Union, and the
United States.
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Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin expresses anger over the decision to prohibit a
Knesset member from entering the U.S.
In a letter addressed to the U.S. ambassador in Israel, Daniel Shapiro, Rivlin
wrote, "I would like to express my protest against the decision and request
that it be reconsidered."
"Mr. Ben Ari is a Knesset member who represents the National Union party, an
entirely legitimate party in the Israeli parliament. As a public official in
Israel, a close ally of the U.S., he cannot be recognized as a member of a
terror group or be prohibited from visiting the U.S.," Rivlin wrote.
Ben Ari said in response to the decision, "The U.S. government, who receives
with open arms [Iranian President Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad, who calls for the
destruction of Israel, [Palestinian President Mahmoud] Abbas, who planned the
murder of children in Jerusalem, and [Israeli Arab MK] Ahmed Tibi, who
enthusiastically encourages shahids, chose to bar me from meeting with Jewish
communites in the U.S. and to encourage aliyah to Israel, with claims that I am
a terrorist. Now it is clear that the American blindness that cannot
differentiate who is a terrorist threatening world peace, is what brought about
the horrible terror attacks of September 11."
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