Israel's New Travel Ban

http://dissidentvoice.org/2017/03/israels-new-travel-ban/
Date Written:  2017-03-20
Publisher:  Dissident Voice
Year Published:  2017
Resource Type:  Article
Cx Number:  CX20518

Weir calls attention to the bizarre state of affairs in which the recent Israeli travel ban denying entry to anyone supporting Boycott, Sanctions, and Divestment against Israel is denied entry to Palestine as well as Israel. What right does Israel have, asks Weir, to decide who may or may not visit Palestine?

Abstract: 
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Excerpt:

People throughout the Western world have objected in outrage to your new law, particularly Jewish Westerners who have family and connections in Israel from whom they’ll be cut off in retaliation for their political positions.

Critics, even some who oppose boycotting Israel and who have had no problem with excluding Palestinians, have called out the law for diverse reasons: its quashing of free debate and political expression, its anti-democratic nature, how it will affect them and others personally.

I support these objections.

But I'm not trying to visit Israel.

I want to go to Bethlehem and Nablus, Ramallah and Hebron, Jenin and Tulkarem. I hope to return to Khan Yunis, Rafah, Gaza City, and numerous other towns and villages in the West Bank and Gaza.

In other words, I want to go to Palestine -- a country recognized by 136 countries around the world. But your law, astoundingly, prevents me from visiting that country. You control entry and exit to the places I want to visit, even though they’re not part of your territory, or included in your exclusive democracy.