Washington, D.C. – Records show that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security plunks down some $425K annually to fund a pre-clearance service facility inside Abu Dhabi International Airport, which doesn’t even include the State of Israel on its official travel-route map.
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The NEW YORK POST (http://bit.ly/1gN2YOS) reports that the facility is used by Etihad Airways, which is partnered with American Airlines and allows for expedited customs clearing for U.S.-bound travelers.
Etihad has a strict policy barring transport of Israelis, and according to a 2010 BBC report implemented a program aimed at teaching its employees how to identify Israelis by their “accents and traits.”
30 year-old Justin Ross Lee, a Manhattan travel expert, said, “As a frequent flier who holds both US and Israeli passports, I would sooner donate my miles to Hezbollah than travel on Etihad Airways.”
$425,000 is sofa-cushion change to the federal government.
If this is true why does anyone continue to use American Airlines? If they boycott us, we should boycott them in return, NO?
I have a bigger question. Can someone explain to me how these anti-semites are given a license to operate in our United States of America when they openly violate Federal Discrimination laws??
I could never imagine an airline that prohibits blacks or swiss nationals from flying on their airplanes from to be allowed to operate in this country.
Methinks someone ought to attempt a booking, get denied, and then file a HUGE class action lawsuit. They’ve got plenty of oil rich $$$,$$$,$$$ in Abu Dhabi to pay the heavy damages the Judge will order 😉
What is the problem here? The Homeland Security pre-clearance service facility is designed to make travel to the USA swifter and more convenient. This has nothing to do with recognizing Israel. It has everything to do with making it faster to enter the USA. $425,000 seems a very reasonable price to pay for that. The whole world does not revolve around recognition of Israel.