[Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA: Pop question: are there any characteristics that
would enable one to identify subgroups of Israelis wanting to visit the
United States who believe that the United States of America does not have a
right to exist and wants to visit the United States to aid and abet people
and groups inside the United States acting against the existence of the
United States?

No.

Are there any characteristics that would enable one to identify subgroups of
US citizens wanting to visit Israel who believe that the State of Israel
does not have a right to exist and wants to visit Israel to aid and abet
people and groups inside the Israel acting against the existence of the
State of Israel?

Yes. ]

Groups say US Visa Waiver for Israelis should be Reciprocal
http://english.wafa.ps/index.php?action=detail&id=22407

WASHINGTON, May 18, 2013 (WAFA - PO news agency) – Over 50 American
organizations signed a letter asking US senators to oppose the United
States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act on the ground Israel mistreats US
citizens travelling to its country, the US Campaign to End the Israeli
Occupation said in a press release on Friday.

It said section nine of this legislation would include Israel in the Visa
Waiver Program without requiring Israel extend reciprocal privileges to
citizens and nationals of the United States through an exemption that allows
Israel to arbitrarily deny entrance to US citizens under the rubric of
national security.

“Israel has a history of discriminating against Palestinian-, Arab-, and
Muslim-Americans travelers and denying them entry,” said the release.

The US State Department Travel Advisory for Israel, the West Bank and Gaza
says that “US citizens are advised that all persons entering or
departing...are subject to security screening and may be denied entry or
exit without explanation... Those with extensive travel to Muslim countries
or US citizens whom Israeli authorities suspect of being of Arab, Middle
Eastern, or Muslim origin may also face additional questioning by
immigration and border authorities.”

“Rather than hold Israel accountable for its ethnic, religious, and
political profiling of US citizens, (the legislation) would codify into law
US acceptance of Israel’s discrimination and allow it to continue to deny
visas to US citizens through its unique catch-all 'reasonable efforts' and
'security' loopholes,” the letter states.

“This bill if passed will essentially render some Americans second class
citizens,” said Mike Coogan, US Campaign Legislative Coordinator. “It will
set a dangerous precedent of the US government officially sanctioning
discrimination by foreign countries against US citizens.”

Pressure is growing on senators to either oppose the bill or withdraw their
sponsorship. A number of national groups have come out against the
legislation including the Friends Committee on National Legislation, Council
on American-Islamic Relations, Jewish Voice for Peace, Arab American
Institute, American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, and the US Campaign
to End the Israeli Occupation, a coalition of 400 groups.

US Representative Keith Ellison recently expressed concerns about such a
move, noting for a Congressional Quarterly article that “American citizens
deserve to travel without fear of being turned away based on their race,
religion, or countries they have visited. Denying law-abiding citizens does
nothing to advance understanding between countries or the cause of peace.”

“We are calling on all Members of Congress to publicly oppose any
legislation that would discriminate on the basis of race, religion,
ethnicity, or political views,” Coogan said. “Congress should instead be
making sure Israel complies by US laws, not continuing to make exemptions
for it.”

M.S.