FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Information: Hussein Ibish
[2] November 9, 2006 - 1:00am
Washington, D.C., November 10 - American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) president Dr. Ziad Asali
met in Jerusalem today with Israeli deputy minister of defense Dr. Ehpraim Sneh to discuss the
issue of recent travel and visa restrictions against Palestinian Americans traveling to and from
the occupied territories. The meeting followed an earlier meeting the same day between Dr. Sneh and
Israeli interior minister Ronnie Baron at which an agreement in principle was reached on the issue.
Dr. Asali has been holding meetings in Jerusalem and Ramallah for the last week with a wide
spectrum of political leaders.
Dr. Sneh informed Dr. Asali that several guidelines would be announced by the Israeli government
in the very near future that will deal with the issues surrounding the travel restrictions concerning
Palestinian Americans, in particular allowing Palestinian Americans to renew their visas without
having to leave the occupied territories.
ATFP notes that the U.S. government has pursued the issue of travel restrictions at the highest
levels with the Israeli government. At the ATFP Inaugural Gala on October 11, 2006 Secretary of
State Dr. Condoleezza Rice pledged to do everything in her power to ensure that all American
travelers receive fair and equal treatment.
ATFP looks forward to the announcement of clear guidelines that will address the concerns of the
tens of thousands of Palestinian Americans who have been affected by the Israeli travel and visa
restrictions.
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