JERUSALEM (VINnews) — U.S. Congressman Mike Lawler has sent a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging him to refrain from imposing sanctions on yeshiva students who hold dual citizenship.
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MK Meir Porush, who maintains close connections with Jewish communities and government officials in the United States, approached Congressman Mike Lawler, a Republican who represents a district in New York, asking him to act to prevent restrictions on the travel of yeshiva students who hold both American and Israeli citizenship, and who are subject to limitations following the cancellation of the yeshiva students draft-exemption status in Israel.
In his letter, Congressman Lawler writes:
“Dear Prime Minister Netanyahu,
I write to you with profound respect for your distinguished leadership and your unwavering commitment to the State of Israel, the Jewish people, and the enduring bond between the United States and Israel.
“It is with this respect that I wish to bring to your attention a concern faced by American citizens who also hold Israeli citizenship. As you are aware, the Attorney General has ordered sanctions against yeshiva students who do not participate in military service. These measures include travel restrictions that prevent dual citizens from leaving Israel.
“We respectfully appeal to you to ensure that these American citizens are allowed to leave Israel and have the ability to visit and return to the United States if they choose While I am confident that the issue may ultimately be resolved in the long term, it is critical that immediate steps be taken to lift these travel restrictions. U.S. citizens, like all citizens, deserve the full protection afforded by their nationality.
“I thank you for your attention to this urgent matter and for your continued dedication to the principles of justice and fairness that strengthen Israel and its vital relationships with its allies abroad.”
MK Meir Porush stated:
“Congressman Lawler’s letter highlights the severity of the absurd sanctions imposed by the judicial system against Torah scholars. This is another step in the set of actions we are taking in response to the grave situation in which tens of thousands of Torah learners in Israel are being persecuted by the authorities. As long as legal officials persist in harming Torah study, we will not cease, and we will even intensify our efforts to protect the world of Torah.”
Charedim should go into court suing the Israeli government for discrimination claiming why Israeli Arabs who have all the benefits as a citizen are exempt from military service.
We need the Americans to stand up for our rights, when our brethren are blinded by hate, what a shame.
Why do these full time Torah learners with Israeli citizenship studying in Israeli yeshivos need to travel abroad? Were they serving in the IDF as is the case with everyone else their age they would not be allowed to travel abroad without special IDF consent, which is granted only under dire circumstances. Why are their yeshivos allowing them to travel abroad when their exemptions from IDF service are conditioned on their full time study?
Lawler- why are you sticking your nose where it does not belong??
This is no different than your supporting people that shirked their duty in the USA during the wars. They are called “draft dodgers and unsympathetic citizens” and we put them in jail
You lost my vote – I supported you since the beginning and now I see you are not different than any other politician that will sell himself to the highest bidder. Now it is the Chassidish community.