Journalists, pundits and politicians have used various words to describe the relationship between the United States and Israel― ‘special,’‘closest ally,’ and ‘strategic partner'―all of which are true and not necessarily unknown. Indeed, the United States and Israel are very close ‘friends’, and some would suggest a true political friendship merits a certain level of respect in the international arena. The United States provides Israel with $3.1 billion in aid annually, indisputably making it Israel’s largest financial backer. The unyielding political and monetary connection between America and Israel should call for Israel to respect all American citizens, no matter what their ethnicity or origin is. Sadly, this hope is exceedingly far from the truth, because if you’re a Palestinian with an American citizenship: forget it, it’s just not happening.

Some Palestinians hold American citizenship either through birth or naturalization, and only carry an American passport. Their status in the United States is as an equal to any other American citizen, regardless of origin. When traveling to any other part of the world, Palestinian-Americans are treated diplomatically, as everyday Americans; but, when they attempt to visit relatives in Palestine they face discrimination, long waits, and intense interrogation at airports or border crossings, and in certain cases “denied access” to the country.

I recall as a youth, back when I was allowed to use Israel's Ben-Gurion Airport (before being issued a Palestinian passport), Israeli custom agents would greet my mother and me right outside the airplane and take us away for interrogation (there was obviously no sense in waiting until we reached the customs booth), and a security officer always escorted us wherever we went. A traveler unaccustomed to Israel’s treatment of Palestinians could have mistaken us for VIPs, which couldn’t have been further from the truth. Even when we showed our young escort our American passports, he would ask us to take a seat and we would wait, and wait, and wait…until finally an officer would come to start the interrogation…

The officer always asked the same questions: “Why are you visiting Israel?”, “Where were you born?” ―it's written right there in my passport- and “How long will you be staying?” Round one of interrogations was followed by more waiting. Back then we waited in front of arriving passengers, but today I hear there is a ‘special’ room with a candy machine and a television. How thoughtful. Sometimes waiting could last hours and hours, all depending on the Israeli custom agent’s mood. Eventually, another officer would come and repeat the same questions. I never quite understood the purpose of such a tactic, but it seemed nothing thrilled Israeli officers more than asking questions. Yes, I was eventually given the “Access Granted” stamp in my passport, but not all Palestinians are as lucky.

A Palestinian girl and her little brother, who had regularly visited the region during the summer, were traveling to see their family last summer in Ramallah. After two long flights from the United States, they arrived at Ben-Gurion. Upon arrival they "luckily" reached the customs booth without being stopped. The guard asked them to step aside and wait while an Israeli officer escorted them to the waiting room, the one with the new candy machine. The usual procedure applied and the siblings sat seven hours in the room with various officials coming and going with questions. Then, the Israeli officers asked the siblings to separate for reasons unknown. Although initially objecting, the siblings eventually complied with the order. After a few hours of separate interrogation they were informed that they had been denied access. The Israeli authorities forced them to buy a plane ticket to their lay-over city and were given a ten-year ban from entering Israel due to “security reasons”. Their passports were returned upon arrival in the lay-over destination.

Shouldn’t all Americans be treated equally no matter their origin? I mean they are Americans aren’t they? The closest known allies of Israel? James Zogby, the founder of the Arab- American Institute, once correctly said,

“It appears that Israel has its own view of U.S. citizenship, seeing three classes: American Jews whom they see as having "birthright advantages," other U.S. citizens who are respected and protected, and then, finally, Arab Americans whose rights as U.S. citizens Israel does not fully recognize.”

So why does Israel not fully recognize the rights of Arab-Americans of Palestinian descent?

Demographics are one of many reasons. Over the years, what has Israel maintained since its conception? It’s Jewish majority. During the Nakba in 1948, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled their homes and became refugees around the world. From 1948 to today, scores of Palestinians carry foreign passports. Numerous attempts are made by Palestinians to return to their homeland, leaving Israeli officials to harshly target those with foreign passports at border crossings.

The demographic situation for Israel has always been fragile since its capture of the West Bank and Gaza Strip in 1967. Keeping its Jewish majority is becoming harder with the growing Palestinian population in the occupied territories. Israel worries Palestinians carrying foreign passports may attempt to make their stay permanent. Interrogating, disturbing, and harassing Palestinians is a strategy to discourage travel into Israel. If such a problem has existed for many decades shouldn’t the United States say something to Israel on behalf of its own citizens?

Over the years, the United States' response to the problem has been minimal. Arab-Americans have tried to raise the political matter with numerous administrations over the decades with little avail. During the final years of President George W. Bush’s term, the State Department finally took “action” about the problem, after a petition was sent by Zogby and signed by various Arab-American groups. The State Department issued a “warning” on its website for all Americans traveling to Israel stating: that Americans of Arab descent could be subject to “additional” security checks, and ended with the following:

“The United States Government seeks equal treatment for all American citizens regardless of national origin or ethnicity. American citizens who encounter difficulties are encouraged to contact the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv or the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem at the telephone numbers below.”

Following this gesture, American officials raised the matter with their Israeli counterparts at various meetings. And surprise― nothing changed. The problem continues today and a new American administration is already well underway. Maybe President Barack Obama could bring the “change” he promised in Washington and deal with the issue seriously. But if history teaches us anything from his predecessors, I doubt serious concern will arise over the matter. Israeli Airport Authorities will continue harassing Palestinian-Americans, while Washington ignores the issue and continues to funnel billions of dollars to their dearest political partner, Israel. If any change does surface, it won’t be in the near future. For now, we should forget it―it’s not happening.

Iyad Romel is a Writer for the Media and Information Program at the Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy (MIFTAH). He can be contacted at mip@miftah.org.