US bars entry to Palestinian founder of Israel boycott group

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

US bars entry to Palestinian founder of Israel boycott group

By SUSANNAH GEORGE
April 11, 2019

WASHINGTON (AP) — A founder of the Palestinian-led boycott movement against Israel was blocked from entering the United States in what he said was a “politically motivated” move.

Omar Barghouti was traveling to the U.S. for a speaking tour but was not allowed to board his flight from Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, according to a statement from the BDS movement. Barghouti said he was told his valid U.S. visa was revoked for “immigration reasons.”

Barghouti was planning to meet with journalists and policymakers in Washington, New York City, Philadelphia and Chicago, and attend his daughter’s wedding. “I am hurt but I am not deterred,” he said about missing that ceremony.

The State Department declined comment, citing the confidentiality of visa records.

-snip-

Read more: https://apnews.com/f369e80e1dfa4f7cade2c7603478f385

[procon]

1. That's not right.

Why would a peaceful protest movement against any government whose policies promote injustice, bigotry and discrimination, not to mention violent retaliation, get them barred from the US, the once fabled bastion of law, justice and democracy? Why are we serving as a subservient, compliant client state to help Israel silence legitimate protests and restrict a basic pillar of any Democracy; free speech?

Who else would likely fit Trump's shallow, petty revenge? Every Democrat in Congress who protests against Trump's madness? The press, political commentators, authors, activists, the voters... are we next? Is boycotting Fox News celebrity hosts now a crime against the state?

[sabbat hunter]

3. Omar Barghouti

is a hateful man who wants Israel destroyed.

[sabbat hunter]

2. Omar Barghouti

seeks the destruction of Israel. He wants one state between the river and the sea, a Palestinian state. One where Jews are not allowed to come to.

I see no reason why he should be allowed in to the US and give hate speeches about destroying Israel.

[procon]

4. The politics of the target doesn't

concern me as much as the slippery slope this opens to banning anyone Trump disagrees with. This is about Democracy and the ideals we say we stand for, not the tribal politics of division that continues to divide and create chaos where ever we find it.

Banning one person is no different than Trump banning Muslims, or his war on immigrants. Who will be next if he succeeds this time?

Right here on DU, we have effectively used boycotts to protest some of the worst Fox news personalities, Republicans and the businesses who support their policies of hate. If we support boycotts as a domestic policy, then there is no excuse to ignore it's potential as a curb to egregious foreign policies that trample the goal of democratic rights.