Gideon Levy : There’s no security like a U.S. visa
U.S.: Israel’s discrimination keeps it out of visa waiver deal
(Haaretz | News)
Israel is ready to become a fairer country: In exchange for joining
America’s visa waiver program, Israel will agree to give “equal”
treatment to U.S. citizens of Palestinian origin at its borders. The
Israeli government has declared that in exchange for free entry to the
United States in time to catch the sale at Macy’s and take a stroll down
Fifth Avenue, it is ready to stop discriminating, interrogating,
abusing and deporting. In exchange for ending the humiliation that comes
with having to wait in line at the U.S. consulate, Israel is ready to
end the humiliation that comes with being profiled in the security
inspection at Ben-Gurion Airport. No more security threats, no more
danger of terrorism lurking within every Palestinian, even if they’re
American.
It turns out that there is something that trumps our cult of security and the hush-hush god of secrecy: a visa waiver. Now what will the Shin Bet, our guardian on the wall, have to say now that the gates are open at Ben-Gurion, and every Mohammed from Virginia and Ahmed from California can walk right in? Security has been the justification for profiling and discrimination; what will become of security now?
This poetic justice was achieved thanks to none other than Deputy Foreign Minister Ze’ev Elkin, who knows a thing or two about discriminating against Arabs. It was him, the right-wing nationalist, believe it or not, who made this happen – and all in exchange for realizing the American dream, which is of course much bigger than most Israeli dreams. This irony should teach other nations around the world a thing or two about dealing with the stubborn, condescending state in the Middle East.
What is Israel asking for, anyway? To save its citizens a two-hour wait at the consulate and having to fill out some online forms. Humiliation? Perhaps, but it pales in comparison to the lengths others must go to in order to gain entry into Israel, a nation that has refused entry to European parliament members as well as American intellectuals because of their opinions, even Jewish ones like Noam Chomsky and Norman Finkelstein. Israel, the country where peace activists aren’t welcome, and where every person bearing an Arab name is considered a suspicious object, no matter their citizenship, is now ready to change its policies in exchange for a few visa waivers. The message is clear: Hit them in their pockets, or at least their visas. That’s the only way.
The only thing that would bring about change is if Israeli citizens received the same treatment throughout the world that Israel dishes out to others. Imagine the worldwide scandal if an Israeli intellectual were refused entry to the United States over articles he’d written, or if a Knesset member were turned away from a European country over her opinion. Imagine if settlers needed approval to visit London, or IDF officers to visit Berlin, amid suspicions that they’ve broken international law. Imagine if Thailand treated Israeli tourists the same way Israel treats Thais who want to visit. An Israeli is of a mind to go to Jordan – ahlan wa-sahlan. A Jordanian wants to come to Israel? Forget it. Imagine if Israeli backpackers were subject to the same kinds of degrading, scandalous interrogations young Europeans are put through – their computers are scanned, also their private parts, and they’re made to fill out ridiculous questionnaires asking intimate details, including where they’ve slept and with whom.
When Israelis start to feel all of this, perhaps they’ll understand how their country abuses those who wish to come see it. It was with good reason that someone once said the occupation will not end until Israelis are refused entry to the Galeries Lafayette. We should give it a try. It’s better than bloodshed.
In the meantime, it turns out that a long line on Hayarkon Street perturbs Israelis enough that they’re willing to give up discriminating against Arabs, the joy of their hearts and rock of their existence. It turns out that if the Americans want it to be so, even a broom can shoot: If Israel is willing to sell its security in exchange for the carrot of visa waivers, what will Israel do when it faces the stick of sanctions and boycotts? Ask Elkin. When he says, “Israelis aren’t suckers,” he knows what he’s talking about.
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