On April 8, 2010, I wrote an article in this space implying that the Obama administration had instituted a new policy restricting entry to the United States for Israeli nuclear scientists who worked at the Dimona reactor. I based my article on a report from the Israeli website/newspaper Maariv, which quoted the nuclear engineering professor Zeev Alfassi as its primary source.
This morning (Pacific time) I was able to reach Dr. Alfassi in his office at Ben Gurion University in the Negev. Apparently, my report — and the newspaper’s — was inaccurate. The professor informed me that while it was extremely difficult for scientists who worked at Dimona to obtain U.S. visas, this was not a new policy of the Obama administration. This problem has been going on since 9/11.
Alfassi explained that formerly he and other scientists were able to go through travel agents to obtain visas to the U.S. Now they have to go personally to the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv. He knows of at least one case of a scientist who was not able to attend a conference in this country because of this system. European scientists, he said, did not have this problem.
Dr. Alfassi was quite cordial in answering my questions and I thank him.
So, visa express for Europe, or when you’re flying out of the Middle East via Europe while missing a passport ( like the attempted Christmas Bomber over Chicago), but if your a Jew coming from Israel with an advanced degree in nuclear engineering you get to stand in line. Ah, yes, Janet “the man style haircut” in charge of Home Land Security said it best after the capture of that unlawful combatant doing a foiled act of war: the system worked.
Thanks for this correction. It raises the question why Israel, of all places, would be subject to such strictures… but I think I know the answer to that. Neither Bush nor Obama wanted Islamic countries to get the impression that Islamic countries are the source of Islamist terrorists. In other words, Israeli nuclear scientists are yet more victims of American political correctness run amok.
This new revelation does not surprise me in the least. George W. Bush is a politically correct whack job. The fact that he allowed Norman Mineta to remain as Secretary of Transportation after 9/11 is all you really need to know. Bush wanted to prove that he wasn’t a racist. Sticking it to the Israelis would supposedly prove this to be the case.
Given how the story came out at the same time that Obama was actively denigrating Netanyahu and driving him to avoid being sandbagged at the nuke summit in DC your initial position was understandable. It speaks well of you that you correct the record.
Takes a big man to admit he made a mistake.
Thanks for the update.
I, for one, see very little difference between Bush/Obama with regards to Israel, Arabs, oil, and terrorism…
I was taken in my the Maariv report, too. It seems to have been very shoddy journalism on their part and I wi not ever rely on them again.
There maybe another underlying reason for requiring more direct action by the scientists from Israel to go to the US Embassy to apply for visa. The brain power of a major scientific project is the driving force of the project. Protection of that brain power is very important. If the Mossad “knows” who the individuals who make up brain power are in the Iraqi nuclear development project . . . is it not possible that the the individuals of the Israeli program are not equally as well known? (RLS certainly just gave out a significant name of his point ot contact.) Thus, anytime the Israeli scientist is on “foreign” soil they are by definition a target for extermination, equally as would be the Iraqi scientist (or North Korean). Perhaps the Israeli would find themselves even more of a target than the Iraqi, maybe due to the kooks that believe in jihad. In any case, scientists from either country, Israel or Iraq, would certainly heighten the risk of actions to be taken in the US, and that incident my fellow Americans would be BAD. Kind of reminds me of a recent incident in Dubai . . . only that was by the British, LOL
5. Jay Getty wrote:
“Takes a big man to admit he made a mistake.
Thanks for the update.
I, for one, see very little difference between Bush/Obama with regards to Israel, Arabs, oil, and terrorism…”
I would differ with Jay a bit. Initiallty Bush knew who was the source of the attack , as he said it a number of times. But something changed, and he backtracked on who/what was the source– Islamism. What caused him to change is pretty simple…. right?
No matter what they had under Bush or have under BHO to do to obtain a visa, the question remains:
Did they come to the US now under BHO, or were they denied a visa and didn’t come?
Perhaps you should have factchecked the story before you ran it, uh?
For those asking, the initial article even said that some were in fact granted visas, others were not.
As for why Israeli nuclear scientists face more scrutiny than European ones: Israel is one of only four countries to openly reject the 1968 Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (along with India, Pakistan, and North Korea).
Who has signed the Nuclear NPT? What access do they give
to inspectors? Is it reasonable to conclude that Israel will be held to a higher standard, when it comes to access?
Honest answers, if you please.
Thank you.
The policy of requiring that a visa be applied for in person at the US embassy for an Israeli nuclear scientist or engineer is a reasonable one. A blanket denial of all visas to the US for such people is not a reasonable policy.
The latter point was the issue in the original report and was attributed to the Obama Administratio.
I would call this a clarification rather than a detail requiring a full correction.
Still, it reflects well on Mr. Simon that he issued it.
Perhaps he should summarize the situation again for us to be sure we have the correct points and conclusions.
> The policy of requiring that a visa be applied for in person at the US embassy for an Israeli nuclear scientist or engineer is a reasonable one.
Why is it reasonable? Be precise – what do you think that they might do that other Israelis are less likely to do?
I’ll help.
Are we concerned that they might engage in or facilitate violence?
Are we econcerned that they might overstay?
This policy (going to the consulate to get a visa) applies to all israelis. In the past obtaining a visa could be done through travel agents but it was abused and thus the policy changed.
>Why is it reasonable? Be precise – what do you think that they might do that other Israelis are less likely to do?
We are concerned that Israeli scientists much spread information about nuclear technologies, including weapons.
Israel (and its nuclear scientists) expressly REJECT non-proliferation treaties regarding nuclear technology. Some of the scientists applied for visas to come to the United States to further study nuclear technologies. It is in the U.S. interest to make sure that certain information does not spread willy-nilly.
Well done, Roger.
Just sayin’.
> We are concerned that Israeli scientists much spread information about nuclear technologies, including weapons.
To whom do they spread such information?
Do we apply similar rules to Russian and Chinese nuclear scientists?
I ask because Russia and China provided nuclear tech to Iran, North Korea, and Pakistan. I forget who helped India.
“I, for one, see very little difference between Bush/Obama with regards to Israel, Arabs, oil, and terrorism”
The Bush family has very close ties through Petroleum holdings and the Carlyle Group to the Saudi family going back decades. Maybe you should look a bit closer?
Accountability for the actions of the rank & file do not
stay only with the rank & file, they extend to leadership.
Accountability for the actions of leadership do not stay only with leadership, they extend to the rank & file.
Nonetheless, barriers are there for Israeli nuclear scientists that are not there for Europeans. This is taking place under the watch of BHO, so he is accountable for it.
What barriers are there for Isreali scientitsts that aren’t there for Europeans?
This is found towards the end of the piece by Roger:
Alfassi explained that formerly he and other scientists were able to go through travel agents to obtain visas to the U.S. Now they have to go personally to the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv. He knows of at least one case of a scientist who was not able to attend a conference in this country because of this system. European scientists, he said, did not have this problem.
Don’t just skim the headline, in other words.
Yeah, I read that. European scientists don’t have what problem? They get to go to conferences even when they apply for their visas too late?
Apparently most of You don’t travel outside of America, Many Europeans come from countries where visas are not required !!! So the good prof cannot expect the same treatment where he is required to obtain a visa & some European who don’t have to get a visa they just inform the US 3 days before coming that they want to come to America (this is even a new requirement as Europeans b4 911 just got on the plane with a need for visas)
Some of you just like blaming Obama for everything !!!
“I, for one, see very little difference between Bush/Obama with regards to Israel, Arabs, oil, and terrorism…”
What happened to the change we voted for?
The change that people voted for will be the change left in the pockets of each person in the US.
When recommendations that Greece only pay 35 cents on the dollar of the money it owes, don’t think it will be all that different for the US, or any other country that has profound levels of debt.
Don’t worry, Greece and the US has company. Check Great Britain, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Japan.
Israelis can come to the USA and hang out for ten years without a visa. Moreover they can have dual citizenship and conflicting loyalties. So one scientist was denied likely for spying? Many equally educated East Europeans are denied US visas but they don’t whine for a media spotlight incessantly.
“Israelis can come to the USA and hang out for ten years without a visa”
that’s absolutely untrue. All israelis need visas, and have quite a hard time to get it too.
once you got a visa, it’ll be (sometimes) for a long duration, so the embassy won’t have to keep hundreds of visa-related people.
Israelis can come to the USA and hang out for ten years without a visa. Moreover they can have dual citizenship and conflicting loyalties. So one scientist was denied likely for spying? Many equally educated East Europeans are denied US visas but they don’t whine for a media spotlight incessantly.
kochevnik and Nero – are you guys identical twins or just twin racists? And what do you know – you have the same IP. Next time be more clever please if you’re going to spill your reactionary drivel in my house. Sayonara.
I agree with #10 on this one. Check your sources.
Israeli scientists have much to offer this country. We should have been making it much easier for them to assist us-especially after 911.
An official discussion of the Department of State’s “Visa Waiver Program” is here: http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html#countries
So why is it reasonable for the US to require Israelis with connections to their country’s nuclear weapon program show themselves at the embassy before getting a visa?
These guys are hot commodities. I’d suspect that they could be targeted for kidnap or murder while in the US. The Mossad knows this and could well provide security WITHIN the US for their citizens. Plus, there could be third party dealings going on that we would prefer not to happen within our borders.
Now, I love Israel and Israelis, but the US government should know what’s what WITHIN our own country.
If the Obama administration intentionally blocks Israeli nuclear people from regular scientific and commercial activities, then that should be critized.
This policy is not just for scientists. Every Israeli citizen who does not have a U.S., EU or Canadian passport has to do this.
This is simply more evidence that U.S. foreign policy with respect to Israel has been consistent. It may be more in your face lately but it is the same policy. We are busily establishing a terrorist state of Israel’s borders to show the Arabs how nice we are.
Do any of you know concrete information regarding what’s happening in Sinai? I know some Israeli relatives on vacation in Dahab now and am kind of anxious. I pray that nothing has happened.
America, with a wink and a nod looked the other way when Israel embarked on its nuclear bomb project. This gross hypocricy is now reaping its just rewards. Iran, Syria, Egypt, Brazil, Saudi-Arabia now have all moved on to the path of attaining nukes.
“I wrote an article in this space implying that the Obama administration had instituted a new policy restricting entry to the United States for Israeli nuclear scientists who worked at the Dimona reactor.”
Roger, you didn’t imply anything. You stated it as face, in your opening sentence.
“The Obama administration is now denying U.S. visas to some Israeli scientists who work at that nation’s Dimona nuclear reactor.”
Shockingly absent from this correction is any admission of error on your part, much less any form of apology for spreading false and inflammatory information. Shall we assume, then, that you will continue to post any agreeable story, regardless of its demonstrable veracity, and treat its conclusions as unqualified fact–until proven wrong?
Or is there perhaps some better way you could approach these things to reduce the change of further errors? I dunno, maybe… two sources? Even three for something really hot?
If not, then I’m doubly unclear on the value that your reporting for Pajamas Media is supposed to be bringing.
“You stated it as face” – “fact”, rather. PIMF.