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| Israel-Palestine |
| U.S. (leftist) Jew Denied Entry Into Israel |
| 2004-07-11 |
| By DAN WALDMAN Associated Press Writer July 11th, 2004 JERUSALEM -- A Jewish American was denied entry to Israel because she belongs to a pro-Palestinian group, her lawyer said Sunday -- a rare case of a Jew banned from the Jewish state. (Self hating Jews are 'the enemy within' the Jewish state, ban them all! Jamie Spector, 32, a social worker from San Francisco, (wow what a radical profile) arrived in Israel on Saturday to protest the West Bank separation barrier Israel is constructing. She has been held in detention since defying the order to leave, said her lawyer, Yael Berda. The separation barrier was ruled illegal in an advisory opinion on Friday by the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands. Israel dismissed the nonbinding ruling as one-sided, charging that it encourages terrorism. Israel says the barrier is needed to keep Palestinian attackers out of the country, but Palestinians call it a land grab because it dips into the West Bank. Spector was denied entry because of her affiliation with the International Solidarity Movement, a pro-Palestinian group active in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Berda said. The group's members often place themselves in between Palestinians and Israeli forces to prevent the army from carrying out operations. Tova Ellinson, spokeswoman for the Ministry of the Interior, said officials acted in accordance with a security recommendation. She refused to comment further. Huwaidi Arraf, an American-born Palestinian and founder of the ISM, said that more than 10 group members have been refused entry into Israel in the past month. Two other ISM activists are in the same detention center as Spector. Israel charges that the activists defy military orders and endanger themselves and soldiers. Many ISM members have been deported. However, banning Spector's entry was different, Berda said. "This is a special case," she told The Associated Press. "It is very difficult for Israel to ban Jews from entering the country. It means that the courts will look differently on her." With few exceptions, Jews are allowed automatic entry into Israel and are offered citizenship. "I am very sorry that the Israeli government is denying me entry into the country where I have so many family and friends," Spector said. "I am committed to nonviolent actions and also to protest the illegal apartheid wall." Berda relayed the AP's questions and Spector's answers by telephone. It would be wonderful when these rats attempt to re-enter the U.S., customs would say "Not today terrorist lover, try North Korea or Iran!" |
| Posted by:Mark Espinola |