Top Israeli Government circles are becoming increasingly irritated by the State Department’s refusal to cancel its ban on travel to Israel, imposed when Israel troops marched into the Sinai Peninsula, it was learned here today. It was also disclosed that Israel is making “constant representations” to Washington to lift the ban.
Although official spokesmen restrict their comments on the continuation of the ban to “we see no reason for such an attitude,” government sources point out that before the Israeli troops were withdrawn from the Akaba and Gaza areas, it was made clear that lifting of the ban on Israel tourism would be entirely dependent on Israel’s actions and would not have to wait until the conditions had been fulfilled for simultaneous raising of the barrier for travel to the Arab states. The ban was imposed on most of the Middle East at the same time.
Official spokesmen have not indicated any readiness to characterize continuation of the travel limitation as pressure on Israel. But this has not kept the press from commenting that the State Department’s attitude is inconsistent with customary relations between friendly nations.
Particularly disturbing to the Israel public has been the fact that the ban has religious overtones, because it means that for the first time in history American Jews will not be permitted–unless the ban is raised–to make the Passover pilgrimage to Israel. This point was underscored in an appeal by Israel’s two Chief Rabbis which was recently handed United States Ambassador Edward B. Lawson for transmittal to Washington.
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