US refuses to grant visa to Israeli MK
due to his membership in ‘terror group’
Jonathan Lis, Haaretz, Feb 23 2012
The US government refused to grant a visa to National Union MK Michael Ben Ari, on the basis of his membership in a “terror organization.” Ben Ari recently submitted a request to the US consulate for a visa, so he could take part in two conferences held in the US this week, one aimed at encouraging aliyah to Israel. In response, however, he was told that he cannot be granted the visa based on a clause that allows the State Dept to prohibit the entrance of people who were involved in terror activities or were members of a terror organization in a foreign country. Ben Ari believes that the US government is referring to his membership in Kach. Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin expressed anger over the decision. In a letter addressed to the US ambassador in Israel, Rivlin wrote:
I would like to express my protest against the decision and request that it be reconsidered. Ben 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.
Ben Ari said:
The US government, who receives with open arms Ahmadinejad, who calls for the destruction of Israel, Abbas, who planned the murder of children in Jerusalem, and Ahmed Tibi, who enthusiastically encourages shahids, chose to bar me from meeting with Jewish communites in the US and to encourage aliyah to Israel, with claims that I am a terrorist. Now it is clear that the USaian blindness that cannot differentiate who is a terrorist threatening world peace, is what brought about the horrible terror attacks of 9/11.
