For 30 years now, I have been demanding that my government, in Washington, protect and defend the rights of its citizens of Arab descent when they travel to Israel and the Palestinian lands occupied since 1967.
I neither felt that this was an unreasonable request to make, nor did I feel that it should have been difficult to fulfil. What I have asked of the past five US Administrations was, quite simply, to do what any government is required to do; and that is, to protect and defend its own citizens and, in this case, require Israel to live up to its treaty obligations.
The US passport says clearly on the opening page: "The Secretary of State of the United States of America hereby requests all whom it may concern to permit the citizen/national of the United States named herein to pass without delay or hindrance and in case of need to give all lawful aid and protection."
There is also the 1961 Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation, signed by the US and Israel, in which Israel agrees that US citizens travelling there be permitted "to travel therein freely, to reside at places of their choice; to enjoy liberty of conscience... and to bury their dead according to their customs."
As many Arab-Americans and most especially those of Palestinian descent will testify, this treaty has been "honoured more in the breach than in the observance".
Over the years, we have recorded countless cases where Arab-Americans (even those with US diplomatic passports) were detained at entry and exit, treated harshly and in a humiliating manner.
Palestinian-Americans, even those born in the US, have been forced to surrender their US passports. Israel requires Palestinian-Americans, even those born in the US, to secure a Palestinian travel document upon entry and exit.
Others have been denied entry when attempting to visit their families; while still others have been denied the opportunity to remain with their families, bury their dead in ancestral plots, or conduct normal business on family-owned properties.
At times, past US Administrations have intervened in individual cases. Former National Security Advisor Sandy Berger and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, and, more recently, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, have raised this issue directly with the Israeli government, but the problem remains because the Israeli behaviour persists.
Own view
It appears that Israel has its own view of US citizenship, seeing three classes: American Jews whom they see as having "birthright advantages", other US citizens who are respected and protected, and then, finally, Arab-Americans whose rights as US citizens Israel does not fully recognise.
In somewhat tacit acknowledgement of this shameful attitude, the US State Department has issued a travel advisory for US citizens going to the West Bank and Gaza.
It states: "American citizens whom Israeli authorities judge (based on their name or other indicators) may be of Palestinian origin are likely to face additional, and often time-consuming, questioning by immigration and border authorities ... persons judged by the Israeli authorities to have claim to a Palestinian Authority ID are subject to Israeli law and regulations that apply to residents of the West Bank and Gaza, regardless of the fact that they hold US citizenship.
"... In addition, American citizens considered to have or to be eligible for a Palestinian ID who entered Israel via Ben Gurion Airport might be required to depart via the Allenby Bridge to Jordan."
In response to what can only be described as apartheid, the US government rather lamely adds in its advisory that, "the US government seeks equal treatment for all American citizens regardless of national origin or ethnicity. American citizens who encounter difficulties are encouraged to contact the US Embassy in Tel Aviv or the US Consulate General in [occupied] Jerusalem...."
After my organisation wrote to the secretary of state (in a letter signed by 29 other Arab-American organisations) protesting this state of affairs, the department spokesperson, at a press briefing, responded, "Our view... is that an American citizen is an American citizen is an American citizen. There are no second classes.
"... You have a blue American passport, you should be treated like an American citizen. ... We expect all American citizens to be accorded the rights that any other American citizen would be accorded." To that, I can only add, "Amen".
What the US government would do when its expectations are not met? I have been waiting for an answer to that question for more than 30 years.
Dr James Zogby is the president of the Arab American Institute in Washington, DC.
