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Last update - 22:06 19/08/2009
U.S. blasts Israeli restrictions on American travelers in West Bank
By Barak Ravid, Amira Hass and Natasha Mozgovaya, Haaretz Correspondents
Tags: West Bank, Israel News 

The United States has harshly criticized new Israeli restrictions placed on foreign nationals entering the West Bank via the Allenby Bridge, calling the new regulations 'unacceptable'. A report on the restrictions appeared in Haaretz last week.

Earlier this week, a senior official at the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv met with the head of the Foreign Ministry's consular division, Yigal Tzarfati, for clarifications on the new procedure, by which passports are stamped at the bridge with a directive limiting the bearer to areas of the Palestinian Authority only.

The U.S. message was that such a procedure is harmful to U.S. citizens who come to the Palestinian Authority.
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At the meeting in Jerusalem, U.S. diplomats asked Tzarfati what the reason was for the restrictions, and a statement issued yesterday by the State Department said that "the United States expects that all American citizens be treated equally, regardless of their national origin or other citizenship."

The statement added, "we have let the government of Israel know that these restrictions unfairly impact Palestinian and Arab-American travelers, and are not acceptable."

In addition to its critical public statement, on August 14 the U.S. State
Department renewed its travel advisory to Israel and the Palestinian
Authority, drawing the attention of American travelers to Israel and the West Bank to the new procedure at the Allenby Bridge.

For some three months, border control officials at the Allenby Bridge have been stamping visitors' passports with a visa and the additional words "Palestinian Authority only." Those who have received the stamp are mainly citizens of countries that have diplomatic relations with Israel, from Europe and the United States, and are mainly those who have family in the West Bank, work or study there.

At the same time, Interior Ministry officials at the borders advise these
people not to come to Israel through Ben-Gurion International Airport or the Sheikh Hussein Bridge crossing with Jordan near Beit She'an, rather only through the Allenby Bridge, frequently after they had been refused entry through the other entry points.

Meanwhile, other foreign nationals arriving at Ben-Gurion airport have
reportedly been asked to sign a pledge that they will not enter Palestinian Authority territory without the approval of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories.

Senior Foreign Ministry officials said that the Interior Ministry is behind the new procedures, and the Foreign Ministry does not support it and does not understand its logic. "It is unclear what good it is and how it can be enforced," a Foreign Ministry official said. "All it does is damage Israel's image in its foreign relations," the official added.

Haaretz has learned that a number of European embassies are planning to
approach the Foreign Ministry to protest and seek clarifications.

The Oslo Accords state that citizens of countries with diplomatic ties with Israel can enter the West Bank and the Gaza Strip with their Israeli visa and a valid passport.

According to Interior Ministry spokeswoman Sabine Haddad, the procedure is based on a decision by the interior minister and the defense minister from 2006 that "any foreign national who wants to enter the Palestinian Authority must have a permit issued by the army, and entry is permitted only into PA territory."

Haddad refused Haaretz's request for a copy of the text of this decision.

Instructions the coordinator of government activities sent to diplomats at the time, which were based on the decision, do not prevent entry to Israel, but determine that foreign nationals must request the approval of "the military commander" to enter the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The Palestinian Authority is not mentioned as one of the categories in these instructions. In the past three years, no procedure has been enacted to receive the "military commander's approval."

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      1.   How`s that Apartheid workin` out for ya? 18:11  |  John 19/08/09
      2.   Ristrictions!!! 19:06  |  Col [Res] Cohen 19/08/09
      3.   US Blast at Iraeli restrictions 20:28  |  Ray 19/08/09
      4.   Why expecting Israel and only Israel not to be able to protect... 20:43  |  Rita 19/08/09
      5.   Israeli travel restrictions on American citizens 20:45  |  Lillian 19/08/09
      6.   Stop sending ISM then! 20:45  |  Darlene Wallach 19/08/09
      7.   To #1 John 20:47  |  Gershon Reed 19/08/09
      8.   the US gives unrestricted access to Israeli citizens when they 00:23  |  Adam 20/08/09
      9.   Disheartened 04:09  |  Carl 20/08/09
      10.   Limit Israelis visiting the US AIPAC HQ only... 04:24  |  BBSNews 20/08/09
      11.   This led to a priceless exchange in the press briefing 04:31  |  Johnboy 20/08/09
      12.   so? and? 05:52  |  Chaim Ben Kahan 20/08/09
      13.   Adam # 8 The Privilege Is Reciprocated Exactly 06:18  |  Jeff Northridge 20/08/09
      14.   US Should Reciprocate 06:22  |  Mark of Lewiston 20/08/09
      15.   #8, Adam 06:50  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 20/08/09
      16.   #9, Jeff Northridge 06:54  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 20/08/09
      17.   US illogic 07:18  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 20/08/09
      18.   Mark Lewiston: a better point of entry 4 Israelis entering the US 07:20  |  Tit-for-tat HaLevi 20/08/09
      19.   About these idiotic restrictions ... 07:46  |  Karin 20/08/09
      20.   Hey USA, what else would you like? 07:52  |  Ozzy 20/08/09
      21.   America should give Israel equal treatment 08:07  |  Natallie Durson 20/08/09
      22.   Yes, and the US should let all Mexicans in. After all... 08:14  |  Ruben Misrahi 20/08/09
      23.   #9 Err, no, Jeff, you`ve just made an incorrect statement. 08:14  |  Johnboy 20/08/09
      24.   Americans Must be the most hypocritical people in the world. 08:28  |  Eugenio 20/08/09
      25.   equal treatment of citizens 09:25  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 20/08/09
      26.   Selective protests by the State department 09:26  |  George 20/08/09
      27.   This is exactly the kind of "stuff" which justifies..... 09:27  |  Swiss (Dino) 20/08/09
      28.   #17, regarding eugenio`s point 09:30  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 20/08/09
      29.   15 Ruben - You Haven`t Seen? 09:48  |  Mark of Lewiston 20/08/09
      30.   Johnboy #16 09:51  |  JOJO 20/08/09
      31.   11 HaLevy - Works for Me 09:52  |  Mark of Lewiston 20/08/09
      32.   Don`t whine, reciprocate 10:05  |  Colin Wright 20/08/09
      33.   What if Christians want to visit Bethlehem? 10:28  |  Miggy 20/08/09
      34.   Israel`s Security More Important than Being PC 10:29  |  Shmuel 20/08/09
      35.   JOJO--So you wont mind if the usa keeps Israelis out 10:42  |  Labhras 20/08/09
      36.   To Colin - no. 22 10:52  |  J 20/08/09
      37.   Mark-Words of briliance 10:53  |  docD 20/08/09
      38.   3rd gen American of Lebanese heritage & Christian: my experience 10:54  |  Joe Hassan 20/08/09
      39.   Excuse me, we know terrorists have USA passports; good policy 11:14  |  Elliot 20/08/09
      40.   Missing the point 11:30  |  D 20/08/09
      41.   Entrenching the separation, i.e. apartheid 11:59  |  Ben Alofs 20/08/09
      42.   What`s in a word? 12:34  |  Mark B. 20/08/09
      43.   This is funny... 12:56  |  Bernd 20/08/09
      44.   # 15 Colin when Israeli`s become terrorists, 13:06  |  petra 20/08/09
      45.   #22 13:11  |  felipeb 20/08/09
      46.   # 6 darlene 13:22  |  Axel 20/08/09
      47.   solution! 13:22  |  by gum 20/08/09
      48.   same old sorry analogy no. 15-jeff 13:46  |  steve 20/08/09
      49.   There has to besomething missing from this story. every country 13:57  |  Steve 20/08/09
      50.   If the Obama administration wishes us, Israelis, to be friends, 13:57  |  Amihai 20/08/09
      51.   I knew there was something missing. Below From the JP. 14:03  |  Steve 20/08/09
      52.   America is defending AMERICAN citizens 14:09  |  Bosha 20/08/09
      53.   What a disgrace 14:28  |  Christina 20/08/09
      54.   It means the disengagement from WB 14:45  |  Rick 20/08/09
      55.   to Restrictions by Cohen 15:22  |  Katica 20/08/09
      56.   To #3 15:24  |  Katica 20/08/09
      57.   Israel is an Apartheid state 15:25  |  Jack 20/08/09
      58.   #20 JOJO 15:36  |  Johnboy 20/08/09
      59.   #15 Yes, and the US should let all Mexicans in. 15:51  |  Gully Foyle 20/08/09
      60.   Johnboy # 16 "Can Enter" Not "Must Be Allowed To Enter" 16:08  |  Jeff Northridge 20/08/09
      61.   #13 Ozzy 16:10  |  Yossi Gershovitz 20/08/09
      62.   Swiss (Dingo) #18 Bo, Ho, Ho 16:13  |  Gil 20/08/09
      63.   Profiling 16:55  |  Walid 20/08/09
      64.   Johnboy - Pls answer just one question 4 me 17:12  |  *BEN JABO 20/08/09
      65.   Thank you America 17:17  |  U.S. citizen 20/08/09
      66.   Johnboy - All those Jihadist`s that were arrested 17:33  |  *BEN JABO 20/08/09
      67.   # 46 Gil, the difference is, that if we check people...... 18:05  |  Swiss (Dino) 20/08/09
      68.   #6 Darlene - making problems for Israel 18:15  |  concerned 20/08/09
      69.   Swiss (Dino) - Switzerland or any European country not different 18:20  |  David Israel 20/08/09
      70.   Obama & Gang.... 18:26  |  Esther 20/08/09
      71.   #49 U.S. Citizen 18:27  |  *BEN JABO 20/08/09
      72.   query 18:40  |  potobac 20/08/09
      73.   # 52 Gully, yes I know but they can`t match muslim terror, yet. 18:53  |  Petra 20/08/09
      74.   U.S. citizen? this is because of 9-11 18:57  |  Petra 20/08/09
      75.   American Hypocricy 19:14  |  Sam 20/08/09
      76.   street is Two way USA 19:15  |  Big Sur 20/08/09
      77.   # 17 Err no JB 19:22  |  Bobo 20/08/09
      78.   US blast? State Dept not "US", its Billary shaking her tiny fists 19:23  |  Dr. Brnd 20/08/09
      79.   Israel - Keep Up The Good Work!! 19:57  |  chet 20/08/09
      80.   #8 Adam -- get your facts right 20:02  |  disgusted american 20/08/09
      81.   # 60 jeff 20:14  |  Axel 20/08/09
      82.   # 69 David Israel 20:23  |  Axel 20/08/09
      83.   Thank G d Israel is starting to toughen up 20:25  |  Simon 20/08/09
      84.   To #72 - if it were Jews being hassled 20:31  |  White Russian 20/08/09
      85.   The Obama administration does it again: Attemting to dictate to 21:20  |  A former Democrat 20/08/09
      86.   #6 fake poster 02:39  |  wibism 21/08/09
      87.   Israels Loss 02:41  |  Sal 21/08/09
      88.   i`m sure there are two sides to this conflict with both sides 03:39  |  raymond 21/08/09
      89.   #82 Axel - When was the last time 03:44  |  *BEN JABO 21/08/09
      90.   Ruben Misrahi - Texas et al was legally annexed. 05:20  |  CJ 21/08/09
      91.   Cipora Julianna Kohn - such ignorance.... 05:34  |  CJ 21/08/09
      92.   Steve - Best you look up Israel`s actual sovereign borders 05:53  |  CJ 21/08/09
      93.   restrictions 07:27  |  Dr, Nina Zeldis 21/08/09
      94.   The US is a full UNSC Member. It IS the US`s business 09:18  |  CJ 21/08/09
      95.   Swiss(Dingo) #66 Newsflash for you 09:23  |  Gil 21/08/09
      96.   #90 What legal means did the British resort to 19:13  |  *BEN JABO 21/08/09
      97.   Jabo - Recheck Texas History 06:48  |  Mark of Lewiston 22/08/09
      98.   Trying one more time to point out what Oslo 2 says 10:51  |  Johnboy 22/08/09
      99.   #64 JOHNBOY - 2ND REQUEST 17:30  |  *BEN JABO 22/08/09
      100.   #98 BEN JABO asks.... 06:57  |  Johnboy 23/08/09
      101.   BBS "Mirror Mirror on the Wall" 01:38  |  *BEN JABO 25/08/09
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