Organization: Bar-Ilan University Computing Center, Israel
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1993 20:43:02 IST
From: Shaul Wallach <F66204@BARILVM.BITNET>
Newsgroups: talk.politics.mideast
Subject: Re: Cat Steven's visit to Israel (& concert!)
Distribution: world
 <4842@copper.Denver.Colorado.EDU> <1993Jan4.192349.153@vms.huji.ac.il>

In article <1993Jan4.192349.153@vms.huji.ac.il>, Josh Backon
<backon@vms.huji.ac.il> writes:

>In article <4842@copper.Denver.Colorado.EDU>,
>aaldoubo@copper.denver.colorado.edu (Shaqeeqa) writes:
>> ...
>>>Speaking of barring individuals from countries, most if not all of the
>>>Arab countries bar all Jews from visiting their countries.  Some will
>>>make exceptions for important politicians (like Kissinger), or for
>>>Jewish soldiers defending Arab countries (like in operation Desert
>>>Storm).
>>
>> You cannot enter any Arab country with an Israeli entry stamp on your
>> passport.  Until you can prove, with some legitimate sources, your
>> above statement, we can understand this to be a pure propoganda piece
>> that contains no credibility.
>
>
>Sorry Anisa. It has NOTHING to do with an *Israeli* entry stamp on one's
>passport. There are a number of Arab countries (e.g. Saudi Arabia) that
>prohibit JEWS from entering. There have been recent incidents of refusing
>entry
>to an American senator of the Jewish faith. Henry Kissinger was the exception
>as were the American soldiers of the Jewish faith who served in the US Army
>during Desert Storm. Incidentally, the Jewish soldiers had to *hide* their
>Jewishness.
>
>Josh
>backon@VMS.HUJI.AC.IL

     I don't want to make a nuisance out of myself, but almost a
year ago I posted the following story of the visit of the liberal
American Jewish Congress to Saudi Arabia. Although the AJC's
political views, which are sometimes critical of Israel, might
have played a part in the Saudi decision to admit the delegation,
the visit does constitute another recent exception to traditional
Saudi policy.

Date: Thursday, 23 Jan 1992 17:29:50 IST
From: Shaul Wallach <F66204@BARILVM.BITNET>
Subject: Saudis Receive American Jewish Delegation

     Today's newspapers in Israel carried news of an historic visit of
an American Jewish delegation to Saudi Arabia. The delegation was made
up of eight officials of the American Jewish Congress, led by its
president, Robert Lifton. They meet in Saudi Arabia with the Foreign
Minister, Saud el-Faisal, and other high government officals. After
the meeting, a joint statement was issued containing the following
points:

     * The right of Israel to exist is not a matter of dispute, and
       it was recognized in King Fahd's 8-point program, which was
       approved at the Fez conference in 1982.

     * The Israeli-Arab conflict is not religious, but political, and
       it is necessary and possible to find a peaceful solution to it.

     * Saudi Arabia sees in the peace process a framework and means
       to achieve a formal and full peace between Israel and its
       neighbors. This peace must be based on a just and equal
       solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians
       and between Israel and the Arab nations.

     It was noted that the American Jewish officials were received
by the Saudis even though some of their passports carried Israeli
stamps. The delegation is scheduled to visit Egypt, Jordan and Israel
before returning to the United States.

Shalom,

Shaul Wallach