Date: 1983-03-08
Speaker: ELLIOTT ABRAMS (democrat)
Chamber: H

Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs. U.S. Department of State. Washington. D.C. DEAR Ma. ABRAMS: I am taking this oppor tunity in anticipation of your testimony before the House Subcommittee on Human Rights to register my concern about a situation that has persisted in Israel for the past thirteen years. I am referring to the African Hebrew Israelites and allegations of human rights violations by the Israeli Government. Reliable sources have proffered evidence that the Israeli government has systematically and continuously attempted to discredit and disperse the. African Hebrew community in Israel. Particularly. I have been informed that the Israeli government has violated the rights of these people in the following areas: 1. Birth CertificatesSources allege that the Israeli government has denied the issuance of birth certificates for over 250 African hebrew children who were native born in the state of Israel. 2. Denial of Educational OpportunitiesThe children of the African Hebrews have allegedly been denied entrance to Israeli public schools. :i. Denial of Work PermitsWorkers have allegedly been denied the issuance of work permits which are necessary for employ ment in Israel. 4. Denial of Health BenefitsThe community has allegedly been denied the provision of medical and health services in Israeli public medical institutions. 5. Restrictions on TravelThe Israeli government has allegedly denied the issuance of passports. identification documents or any papers that would allow freedom of movement within or beyond the Israeli borders. It has been pointed out that the aboveal leged restrictions violate several provisions and articles of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights. In light of the United States commitment to human rights and the scope and nature of our relationship with the democratic state of Israel. I am requesting that the Department of State undertake a thorough investigation of these alleged violations. In that regard. I recommend that you include in your investigation a visit to Dimona. Israel to talk with the leadership and members of the community. I have attached a copy of a letter from the African Hebrew leadership i- Jerusalem imploring my assistance in this matter. I am aware that the State Department mentions at page 1161 of the Country Reports that the legal status of the African Hebrew community remains unresolved in Israel. It appears that after thirteen years. the Israeli government could have and. indeed. should have resolved this basic con tradiction in its democratic process. Although we want to be careful in not alleging any discrimination based on race in this matter. it is especially disturbing to learn that as far back as December of 1981. the Ministry of the Interior in Israel granted permanent resident status to 500 Vietnamese refugees. You can see that these allegations are not to be taken lightly if there is. in fact. a denial of basic human rights in Israel. I trust that you will investigate the matter and report your findings to the Congress in the Country Reports for 1983 if not before. I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely.