United States–Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014: Difference between revisions
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==Public perception== |
==Public perception== |
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The bills have been promoted by the [[American Israel Public Affairs Committee]] ("AIPAC"), including at its annual conference in March 2013.<ref name=JTAApril16>Ron Kampeas, [http://azjewishpost.com/2013/in-u-s-fight-over-visa-waiver-exemption-for-israel-both-sides-cite-discrimination/ In U.S. fight over visa waiver exemption for Israel, both sides cite discrimination], [[Jewish Telegraphic Agency]], April 15, 2013.</ref><ref>[http://www.aipac.org/policy-agenda/agenda-display?agendaid={D9F4B5E3-4883-4800-97FB-7D5655789AAA} Strengthen US-Israel strategic cooperation] web page on [[American Israel Public Affairs Committee]] website, ''accessed April 16, 2013''.</ref> The [[American Jewish Committee]] |
The bills have been promoted by the [[American Israel Public Affairs Committee]] ("AIPAC"), including at its annual conference in March 2013.<ref name=JTAApril16>Ron Kampeas, [http://azjewishpost.com/2013/in-u-s-fight-over-visa-waiver-exemption-for-israel-both-sides-cite-discrimination/ In U.S. fight over visa waiver exemption for Israel, both sides cite discrimination], [[Jewish Telegraphic Agency]], April 15, 2013.</ref><ref>[http://www.aipac.org/policy-agenda/agenda-display?agendaid={D9F4B5E3-4883-4800-97FB-7D5655789AAA} Strengthen US-Israel strategic cooperation] web page on [[American Israel Public Affairs Committee]] website, ''accessed April 16, 2013''.</ref> The [[American Jewish Committee]] supports the bill as well.<ref>[http://www.ajc.org/c.7oJILSPwFfJSG/b.8475649/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx?aid=519179 Take Action: Enhance U.S.-Israel Strategic Partnership] web page on [[American Jewish Committee]] website, ''accessed April 16, 2013''.</ref> However, Israel has made it clear it will not join the Visa Waiver Program unless the Senate language regarding its security concerns is included.<ref name=JTAApril16/> |
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Unnamed staffers for members of the House of Representatives said there is opposition the security language because it seems to validate Israel’s tendency to turn away Arab Americans without |
Unnamed staffers for members of the House of Representatives said there is opposition to the security language because it seems to validate what they perceive as Israel’s tendency to turn away Arab Americans without a reason, although Israel insists this is done on the basis of security concerns. The other members of the program do not have such an exemption.<ref name=JTAApril16/> |
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The bill has been criticized in [[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] by Mike Coogan, legislative director of the [[US campaign to end the Israeli occupation]], as containing a "tripwire provision to drag the U.S. into an Israeli initiated war with Iran", an exemption from sequestration cuts of US aid to Israel and the problematic "strategic ally" designation. He wrote that the Visa Waiver provision would allow Israel to continue to discriminate against Palestinian Americans, [[Arab Americans]] and [[Islam in the United States|Muslim-Americans]] who attempt to travel to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories while allowing all Israeli citizens to enter. He added that it would codify discrimination against them which is now illegal under US law.<ref>Mike Coogan, |
The bill has been criticized in [[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] by Mike Coogan, legislative director of the [[US campaign to end the Israeli occupation]], as containing a "tripwire provision to drag the U.S. into an Israeli initiated war with Iran", an exemption from sequestration cuts of US aid to Israel and the problematic "strategic ally" designation. He wrote that the Visa Waiver provision would allow Israel to continue to discriminate against Palestinian Americans, [[Arab Americans]] and [[Islam in the United States|Muslim-Americans]] who attempt to travel to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories while allowing all Israeli citizens to enter. He added that it would codify discrimination against them which is now illegal under US law.<ref>Mike Coogan, |
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Revision as of 21:13, 8 May 2013
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| Long title | United States–Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2013 |
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United States–Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2013 (H.R. 938; S. 462) are almost identical bills introduced to the 113th United States Congress.
Background
The United States and Israel do not have a formal treaty of alliance, as the US does with other nations, and it is under no obligation to come to Israel’s defense. However, the US does refer to Israel and other nations without treaties as allies.[1] The US has supported Israel with foreign aid, providing nearly $3 billion in grants annually to Israel since 1985; Israel is the largest cumulative recipient of US foreign aid since World War II.[2]
Israel applied to join the US government's Visa Waiver Program in 2005. The program permits citizens of selected countries to enter the US for up to 90 days without having to apply for an entry visa. The Senate rejected the bid because not all Israeli citizens own a biometric passport, the entry visa rejection rate for Israelis exceeded 3%, and Israel insists on stricter security checks for Palestinian Americans than other American citizens.[3]
Provisions/Elements of the bill
This summary is based largely on the summary provided by the Congressional Research Service, a public domain source.[4]
In both the House and Senate versions the bill declares that Israel is a major strategic partner of the United States. It amends the Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act of 2012 to extend authority to add to foreign-based defense stockpiles and transfer obsolete or surplus United States Department of Defense items to Israel. It authorizes the United States President to carry out US-Israel cooperative activities, including in the fields of energy, water, homeland security, cyber-security, agriculture, and alternative fuel technologies, as well as renewable energy or energy efficiency. Urges the President to provide assistance for enhancement of rocket defense systems.
The House version states that it shall be US policy to include Israel in the visa waiver program when Israel satisfies such program's inclusion requirements. The Senate version specifies that satisfaction of the requirements regarding reciprocal travel privileges for U.S. citizens would be subject to security concerns.
Procedural history
In the House of Representatives, Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) introduced the bill H.R.938 on March 4, 2013. It currently has 182 cosponsors and has been referred to the House Subcommittee on Immigration And Border Security.[5]
In the Senate, Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) introduced the bill S.462 on March 5, 2013. It currently has 20 cosponsors and has been referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.[6]
Public perception
The bills have been promoted by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee ("AIPAC"), including at its annual conference in March 2013.[7][8] The American Jewish Committee supports the bill as well.[9] However, Israel has made it clear it will not join the Visa Waiver Program unless the Senate language regarding its security concerns is included.[7]
Unnamed staffers for members of the House of Representatives said there is opposition to the security language because it seems to validate what they perceive as Israel’s tendency to turn away Arab Americans without a reason, although Israel insists this is done on the basis of security concerns. The other members of the program do not have such an exemption.[7]
The bill has been criticized in The Hill by Mike Coogan, legislative director of the US campaign to end the Israeli occupation, as containing a "tripwire provision to drag the U.S. into an Israeli initiated war with Iran", an exemption from sequestration cuts of US aid to Israel and the problematic "strategic ally" designation. He wrote that the Visa Waiver provision would allow Israel to continue to discriminate against Palestinian Americans, Arab Americans and Muslim-Americans who attempt to travel to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories while allowing all Israeli citizens to enter. He added that it would codify discrimination against them which is now illegal under US law.[10] Lara Friedman of Americans for Peace Now wrote that the bill "takes the extraordinary step of seeking to change the current U.S. law to create a special and unique exception for Israel in U.S. immigration law."[11] Journalist Glenn Greenwald wrote in The Guardian that the bill also would allow Israel to refuse entry to Americans who "are critical of Israeli actions or supportive of Palestinian rights."[12] James Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute, has lobbied against against the Senate language, and said passage of such a law would ratify "Israel’s position of creating two classes of citizen".[7]
See also
Notes/References
- ^ War talk on Iran forces the issue: Is Israel a formal US ally?, Christian Science Monitor, March 2, 2012.
- ^ U.S. Foreign Aid to Israel (Adapted from the summary of a report by Jeremy M. Sharp, specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs. September 16, 2010)
- ^ Yitzhak Benhorin, US Congress to debate visa exemption for Israelis, Ynetnews, January 11, 2013.
- ^ Information may be found through a THOMAS search of "United States–Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2013".
- ^ THOMAS search of "United States–Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2013", H.R.938.
- ^ THOMAS search of "United States–Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2013", S. 462.
- ^ a b c d Ron Kampeas, In U.S. fight over visa waiver exemption for Israel, both sides cite discrimination, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, April 15, 2013.
- ^ Strengthen US-Israel strategic cooperation web page on American Israel Public Affairs Committee website, accessed April 16, 2013.
- ^ Take Action: Enhance U.S.-Israel Strategic Partnership web page on American Jewish Committee website, accessed April 16, 2013.
- ^ Mike Coogan, AIPAC's legislative agenda dividing members of Congress, The Hill, April 5, 2013.
- ^ Lara Friedman, APN Legislative Round-Up: Week Ending 3/8/13, Americans for Peace Now web site, March 8, 2013, accessed April 17, 2013.
- ^ Glenn Greenwald, Barbara Boxer, AIPAC seek to codify Israel's right to discriminate against Americans, The Guardian, April 13, 2012.
External links
- Thoms.loc.gov: H.R. 938, S. 462.
- Congress.gov: H.R. 938, S. 462
- GovTrack.us: H.R. 938, S. 462
- OpenCongress.org: H.R. 938, S. 462
- WashingtonWatch.com: H.R. 938, S. 462
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Government.