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American ecumenical leader accuses Israel of ‘systemic’ racial discrimination
American ecumenical leader accuses Israel of ‘systemic’ racial discrimination
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Founder of the Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation Rateb Rabie. (Medjugorje WebSite)
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Updated 02 July 2026 22:05
RAY HANANIA
July 02, 202621:54
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- Rateb Rabie led a delegation of Palestinian Americans who were denied entry by Israel
- He tells Arab News this violates the Visa Waiver Program signed by both countries in 2023
Rateb Rabie told Arab News that he was leading a delegation of nine US citizens under a non-political, non-profit program called “Know Thy Heritage” — which takes Arab Americans to the countries of their parents’ origins to understand their cultural backgrounds — when Israel denied them entry on June 28.
He urged US officials to protest the violation of the VWP, adding: “What our delegation experienced at the border wasn’t an isolated incident — it reflects a deeper, systemic pattern of discriminatory treatment toward Palestinian Americans.
“The blanket denial of entry, issued without explanation or due process, violates not only our basic human rights but also the commitments Israel made under the VWP.
“This program was built on the principle of reciprocity. These actions demonstrate a clear breach of that principle.”
The VWP allows Israelis to travel to the US and Americans to travel to Israel for up to 90 days without a visa.
Rabie urged US officials to force Israel to live up to its obligations to ensure that all citizens, “especially Palestinian Americans, are treated with dignity, fairness and equality at every border.
“Our experience strengthens our resolve to pursue accountability and to advocate for the rights of our community.
“We’ll continue our mission with determination, transparency, and an unwavering commitment to justice.”
Palestinian Americans are frequently turned away at Israel’s borders despite the VWP, Rabie said, adding that the group completed meticulous and lengthy pre-screening through the VWP and ETA-IL, the Israeli system used to review anyone entering the country. They had all been pre-screened and approved by Israel under the VWP and ETA-IL, he said.
Applications to enter Israel are completed weeks or months in advance of trips, and the rejection of Palestinian visitors upon arrival results in great economic cost to them.
Jenin Younes, president of the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, said the organization is appalled not only by the refusal to allow the students to enter Israel, but by the violation of the VWP.
“This denial is part of a longstanding, retaliatory practice on the part of the Israeli government to weaponize border control to deny entry to Palestinian Americans and others who seek to protect Palestinians from Israeli terror or to report on Israel’s maltreatment of Palestinians,” Younes told Arab News.
“For far too long, the US has ignored this custom, which entails racial discrimination and is unlawful under the VWP.”
Younes cited other incidents where visitors of Palestinian origin have been turned away after meticulously completing and meeting ETA-IL and VWP requirements.
Israel has detained many Palestinian Americans for days after strip searching, interrogating and humiliating them, eventually forcing them to return to the US without explanation.
