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The Saudi tourist site saying that Jewish people were ineligible to apply for visas was up as late as last night; I sent it to a friend at 7:44 PM yesterday. But now image-conscious Saudis have taken it down. Does that mean their policy has changed? That question is as yet unanswered. From AP:
Rep. Anthony Weiner, a frequent critic of United States policy toward Saudi Arabia, said Thursday that the Middle East country's new visa policy outlined on a tourist Web site should be quickly condemned by American officials.The Web site, promoting a new Saudi program to offer tourist visas to encourage more foreign visitors, lists four groups not entitled to tourist visas, including "Jewish People."
The Saudi government has traditionally only issued travel visas for employment, Hajj pilgrimages, and other visits with official sanction.
In addition to Jews, the Web site by the Supreme Commission for Tourism also says it will refuse visas to anyone with an Israeli passport or a passport that has an Israeli stamp.
"It is very difficult to see the Saudis as anything other than a backward country with backward ideals and this reaffirms that," said Weiner. "I think the administration should take a hard look at this Web site and decide whether a country that has these policies should be considered our ally."
Weiner said the U.S. should close its doors to Saudis until they "clarify" their immigration policy.
Posted by Robert at February 27, 2004 9:22 AM
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File that one under "not shocked"
Posted by: Rusty Shackleford at February 27, 2004 9:45 AMQuestion for any knowledgeable person in this forum:
Are Jewish-American diplomats allowed in SA? Or does the State department "screen" the religions of its personnel? If they do screen, isn't it against the law?
Thanks in advance.
It's almost funny that the Saudis are trying to promote tourism in their country. With all those arrests and torture of foreigners (one Brit was sentenced to partial beheading and crucifixion, luckily got a pardon), the intolerant closed society, and the hijab laws for women, what sort of tourists are they trying to get to visit?
Posted by: zorkmidden at February 27, 2004 10:30 AMBut surely there are thousands of Jews desperate to come and see the site of A(I)brahams altar. Think of the effect all these people staying away will have on the Saudi economy.
Seriously, the many american and european (especially British) civilians who work in Saudi in return for a nice tax free income have to accept some responsibility for helping to support a corrupt regime.
Is there no organisation organising boycotts of governments of this type with total disregard of human rights. We did so at least partially to the South Africa of Apartheid. Dhimmi is just a religiously justified form of Apartheid.
I have a screen-capture of the original page at my website.
Posted by: Allah at February 27, 2004 11:09 AMQorvis took care of that page. Good to have Americans to cover Saudi ass.
feh
Posted by: ploome at February 27, 2004 5:43 PMHey Ploome,
Nice to see you here. :-)
How's Barstow?
Posted by: zorkmidden at February 27, 2004 5:51 PM
But Mel Gibson is the anti-semite, and his movie bashes Jews they say.
Right.
Posted by: Austin at February 27, 2004 10:13 PMSeveral comments:
1. There is nothing unclear about Saudi immigration policy. They simply don't permit immigration.
2. What the US will do if they have someone who at one time or another, has to go into both countries, is (at least we used to) issue removeable pages for Israel.
3. Peter, that's one way of looking at it. I prefer to look at it as getting some of our oil money back. About taxes: I still pay Social Security. I don't pay income taxes, but I use very few US services. Consular services are largely fee-based. You could make the case that I'm taking advantage of the US defensive umbrella, but I feel sort of entitled to that. I spent 21 years with baggy green skin and black feet. Been there, done that, got a pile of T-shirts. Been lucky, avoided the scars.
As far as the House of Saud is concerned, any alternative that I see is worst. One of my coworkers observed that Muslims can't be governed. They have to be ruled.
jay
Posted by: Jay Stevens at February 28, 2004 8:38 AMAny Jewish person that would want to visit Saudi Arabia should have his or her head examined from a million directions. What greater enemy do we as Jews have than the Saudis? If you want to see sand, visit the Mohave Desert. For that matter why would a Christian want to visit Saudi Arabia? They too are Dhimmis.
I recall during the 1960s when the late King Saud was a patient at the Massachusestts General Hospital, he demanded that no Jewish doctors treat him. He also came with about forty wives.
To my Jewish brethren: Do not feel bad that the Saudi Arabians don't want you. Consider it a compliment that you are unwelcome in Hell!
Posted by: Barry Greenspan at February 28, 2004 6:11 PMOur real enemy is Saudi Arabia, and what we should be doing, besides going after Al Qaeda is embarking on a 3-5 year program to reduce our oil consumption by 1/3. Then let them drink it!
Posted by: Budd at March 1, 2004 8:37 AMThe solution to the problem of any Muslim - royal or not - refusing to accept a Jewish doctor is to tell him, "This is Dr. Doe. He's our fourth best -----ologist." Pause. "The three best are Jews." And see what happens.
jay
Posted by: Jay Stevens at March 2, 2004 3:28 PM
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