Knesset speaker cancels delegation trip to US after MK refused visa
In 2009 and again last month, I reported that the United States refused to grant an entry visa to MK Michael Ben Ari (National Union), who was a follower of Rabbi Meir Kahane HY"D (May God avenge his blood). Now, as a result of the American refusal to grant Ben Ari a visa, Knesset speaker Ruby Rivlin (Likud) has canceled the entire Knesset delegation, of which Ben Ari was supposed to be a part, which was supposed to visit Congress. MKs Einat Wilf (Independence), Tzipi Hotovely (Likud) and Zehava Gal-On (Meretz) were supposed to attend a female empowerment conference in Washington DC at the end of the month. The conference includes a panel with female members of Congress at the Israeli embassy.I wonder whether the State Department would have any problem granting a visa to MK Hanin Zoabi (Balad), who was aboard the Mavi Marmara. I suspect not.
Rivlin decided to cancel the delegation, because the State Department will not allow Ben-Ari to visit the US because the MK is connected to a terrorist organization.
Ben-Ari was a student of Rabbi Meir Kahane, and still refers to himself as a disciple of the controversial rabbi. Kahane’s Kach political party was banned from the Knesset for being racist in 1988 and declared a terrorist organization by the State Department in 1994.
“The US claim that an MK is a terrorist is unacceptable and disrespects the entire Knesset,” Rivlin said.
It's funny how the State Department has no problems granting a visa to Abu Mazen, the financier of the Munich Olympics massacre.
Labels: Kach, Michael Ben Ari, travel visas
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 2:38 AM
3 Comments:
Unbelievable - the double standard and lunacy.
Kol HaKavod to Rivlin!
Hi Carl.
As Leah says: "Unbelievable - the double standard and lunacy".
Lunacy .....nope double standard yes.
As i said before Obama and Erdogan sitting together in the 'fight against terrorism' can only mean one thing: in his second term Israel being designated as a 'rogue state' that helps terrorists.Sounds crazy perhaps but the future will show how crazy or far-fetched this notion is.
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