Israeli lawmakers ban member of Knesset from American trip funded by Jewish Voice for Peace

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 14, 2018
Contact: Sonya E Meyerson-Knox | sonya@jvp.org | 929-290-0317
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MK Jabareen invited for series of talks about deterioration of democracy in Israel.

The Israeli Knesset yesterday barred Knesset member Yousef Jabareen from traveling to the U.S. for a lecture series funded by Jewish Voice for Peace, the first time an MK has been banned from international travel.

MK Jabareen was invited by Jewish Voice for Peace for a planned week-long speaking tour at universities, think tanks and public events across the East Coast, including a proposed briefing on Capitol Hill, where he was to speak about the deterioration of democracy in Israel, including the latest discriminatory laws against Palestinians in Israel, starting April 24th.

The Knesset Ethics Committee announced Tuesday that MK Jabareen’s request to partake in the lecture series was refused, as Jewish Voice for Peace is listed by the Israeli Ministry of Strategic Affairs as supporting the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement.

[blockquote text=’“We are deeply disappointed that MK Yousef Jabareen won’t be able to join us in the U.S. due to the Knesset decision to effectively block his travel,”’ text_color=” quote_color=’undefined’ width=” line_height=” background_color=” border_color=” border_width=”]

stated Jewish Voice for Peace Executive Director Rebecca Vilkomerson.

[blockquote text=’“We were very much looking forward to learning from his experience as an MK and his leadership on issues of democracy and equality in Israel. This decision is sad evidence of the further deterioration of Israeli democratic standards.”’ text_color=” quote_color=’undefined’ width=” line_height=” background_color=” border_color=” border_width=”]

Executive Director Vilkomerson is available to speak with the media.

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Jewish Voice for Peace is a national, grassroots organization inspired by Jewish tradition to work for a just and lasting peace according to principles of human rights, equality, and international law for all the people of Israel and Palestine. JVP has over 200,000 online supporters, over 70 chapters, a youth wing, a Rabbinic Council, an Artist Council, an Academic Advisory Council, and an Advisory Board made up of leading U.S. intellectuals and artists.

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