Advocacy organization American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) has launched a petition to prevent Israel from joining the U.S. Visa Waiver Program.
The program allows citizens of certain countries to travel to the U.S. for up to 90 days without a visa. AMP's petition comes in response to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between the U.S. and Israel on July 19, which initiated a trial run for Israel's inclusion in the program.
According to Axios, the trial run allows Israel to adhere to the terms of the agreement for up to six weeks before being fully admitted. AMP's petition, started on Tuesday, protests the State Department's decision and demands that Israel be immediately disqualified due to its alleged "discriminatory policies" against Palestinians in Gaza.
The petition includes a letter outlining five reasons why Israel does not meet the necessary standards for inclusion in the program. It argues that the current agreement would reinforce Israel's "apartheid policies." The letter states, "The MOU reinforces separate-and-unequal Israeli practices for Americans visiting or residing in illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, who face no restrictions, and Palestinian-Americans with West Bank IDs visiting or living in the same territory."
The letter also highlights that the MOU excludes the besieged Gaza Strip from the Visa Waiver Program, which AMP claims contributes to Israel's illegal collective punishment and fragmentation of Palestinians. The petitioners argue that the MOU may violate the 14th Amendment's equal protection clause.
AMP also raises concerns about the lack of public access to the full MOU, stating that it is "inconceivable" for the U.S. not to make a document public that negatively impacts the rights of many U.S. citizens. The group notes that their complaints are based on an "unverified, unofficial copy of the MOU."
According to Axios, the MOU requires Israel to allow Palestinian, Iranian, and Arab Americans access to all points of entry into Israel during the trial period before the U.S. reciprocates. However, the agreement reportedly does not include points of entry into the Gaza Strip, preventing U.S. citizens living in the area from entering Israel.
Another point of contention raised by AMP is the alleged requirement for Palestinian Americans to use an Israeli app that compromises their security. The letter claims that the app, linked to Israel's Coordinator Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), provides access to users' information, including contacts and GPS tracking. AMP argues that requiring Palestinian Americans to use the app compromises their security.
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