The Virginia State Bar (VSB), an administrative agency of the Supreme Court of Virginia, has canceled its midyear legal seminar, that was to be held in Jerusalem, due to “unacceptable discriminatory policies and practices pertaining to border security that affect travelers.”
The decision came after an online petition was launched by bar members who say that the exit and entrance policies of Israel would discriminate against Arab, Muslim and Palestinian members of the legal community.
“It is unacceptable that the Virginia State Bar has decided to hold a conference in a location that actively discriminates on the basis of racial, religious, and national origin grounds, and effectively prevents Arab, Muslim and Palestinian members of the [Virginia State Bar] from attending,” the petition said.
The actions taken by the VSB has provoked a swift reaction among some political leaders. A few media outlets are calling the VSB’s decision a “boycott”, and in response to this, House Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) wrote a letter urging the group to reconsider. In Howell’s argument, he states that Virginia has a long-standing relationship with Israel, and claims that the state shares “cultural and economic” ties with the country, including $75 million in exports last year.
State Bar leaders say that their decision has been misinterpreted, and that they are not boycotting Israel, or taking any other political actions.
“We are not a political group,” Said Edward L. Weiner, the group’s president-elect. “We are making no political stand whatsoever. We are not making any statement about Israel, Israel’s security policy, zero.”
According to Weiner, the deadline for members to sign up for participation in the seminar was April 1st, and it required full participation. Of the 60 members who were to attend, only about 25 have signed up. Just as interest in the seminar had fallen short, the association received a petition which was signed by 39 members of the bar.
After checking with the U.S. State Department Web site, the bar found that “some U.S. citizens holding Israeli nationality, possessing a Palestinian identity card, or who are of Arab or Muslim origin have experienced significant difficulties in entering or exiting Israel or the West Bank.” The Israeli Embassy told the bar its officials couldn’t guarantee that someone in the group would not be questioned or stopped.
While many are calling the decision made by the VSB “outrageous”, others are agreeing with it. Fairfax lawyer, Laurie Forbes, 62, heard of the controversy after receiving the email announcing the seminar’s cancellation. After doing her own research into Israel’s policies, she signed the petition as well.
“The Israeli government has a right to put in place whatever policies they think they need to protect themselves,” Forbes said. “But if those measures result in discrimination against member of my organization based solely on their surname or their religious background, then my organization has no business going there.”
You want to support Anonymous Independent & Investigative News? Please, follow us on Twitter: Follow @AnonymousNewsHQ
Sources:
Rejniak-Barakat, Sydney. The Antimedia. Mar 29, 2015. (http://theantimedia.org/bar-association-virginia-cancels-trip-jerusalem-due-israels-discriminatory-practices/)
St. George, Donna, and Hendrix, Steve. The Washington Post. Mar 29, 2015. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-news/va-state-bar-cancels-jerusalem-trip-over-discriminatory-border-policies/2015/03/29/58302936-d629-11e4-ba28-f2a685dc7f89_story.html)
