Haaretz: MP Denied Entry to US over Terror Links?!
Local Editor
An "Israeli" parliamentary delegation cancelled its planned visit to Washington DC later this month, because the US State Department has denied entry to MP Michael Ben Ari, a far right MP.
This is particularly interesting given the large numbers of times the MPs themselves have angrily condemned Arab MPs within the Knesset as terrorists and demanded that they be arrested or deported.
The US had already denied Ben Ari's visa last month, and consular officials later said it was "based on the State Department's prerogative to ban terrorists from entering the country," claimed Haaretz.
"Israeli" officials had sought to reverse the decision, arguing that no official in the "Israeli" government could be banned for terrorist ties.
The "Israeli" Knesset's speaker says it is "unacceptable" to label any member of the parliament a "terrorist" as the US has apparently done.
Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin said "The United States' allegation that an MK is a terrorist is unacceptable."
In a letter addressed to the US ambassador in "Israel", Daniel Shapiro, Rivlin wrote, "I would like to express my protest against the decision and request that it be reconsidered."
Describing Ben Ari as an "Israeli" diplomat which is the US's close ally, Rivlin wrote to Shapiro "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 US, he cannot be recognized as a member of a terror group or be prohibited from visiting the US."
Source:"Israeli" papers, edited by moqawama.org
An "Israeli" parliamentary delegation cancelled its planned visit to Washington DC later this month, because the US State Department has denied entry to MP Michael Ben Ari, a far right MP.
This is particularly interesting given the large numbers of times the MPs themselves have angrily condemned Arab MPs within the Knesset as terrorists and demanded that they be arrested or deported.
The US had already denied Ben Ari's visa last month, and consular officials later said it was "based on the State Department's prerogative to ban terrorists from entering the country," claimed Haaretz. "Israeli" officials had sought to reverse the decision, arguing that no official in the "Israeli" government could be banned for terrorist ties.
The "Israeli" Knesset's speaker says it is "unacceptable" to label any member of the parliament a "terrorist" as the US has apparently done.
Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin said "The United States' allegation that an MK is a terrorist is unacceptable."
In a letter addressed to the US ambassador in "Israel", Daniel Shapiro, Rivlin wrote, "I would like to express my protest against the decision and request that it be reconsidered."
Describing Ben Ari as an "Israeli" diplomat which is the US's close ally, Rivlin wrote to Shapiro "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 US, he cannot be recognized as a member of a terror group or be prohibited from visiting the US."
Source:"Israeli" papers, edited by moqawama.org
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