Israel Matzav: MK barred from US?

MK barred from US?

MK Michael Ben Ari of the National Union party has managed to tick off the United States so much that they are refusing to issue him a visa to come to the US. Ben Ari's offense? He tried to get the Knesset to commemorate the murder of Rabbi Meir Kahane HY"D (may God avenge his blood).

Earlier this week, Ben-Ari's office confirmed that the outspoken lawmaker's application for an American visa had been delayed, ostensibly due to an outstanding criminal file dating back to the period surrounding the 2005 disengagement.

The trip to the United States would have been Ben-Ari's first visit outside of Israel. His spokesman, Itamar Ben-Gvir said that although on principle, Ben-Ari does not leave the country, this trip was to be an exception "to encourage aliya and strengthen the connection between American Jewish communities and Israel."

But after Ben-Ari submitted his visa application - a routine process for many Israelis, which included a statement regarding any criminal files against him - his office was told that his request was delayed.

Ben-Gvir stressed that Ben-Ari had never been charged with anything, but that the police file was being kept open indefinitely.

Ben-Ari's case seems to differ from those of a number of other right-wing political figures, including former MK Benny Elon, who were granted visas despite similar legal situations.

Ben-Ari's office emphasized that his case had reached the highest levels of the Foreign Ministry, which was "taking care of the issue," and trying to convince the State Department to allow the MK to carry out the visit as planned.

It's more likely that the plan to memorialize Kahane is what's really behind the denial of Ben Ari's visa. Read the whole thing to find out why.

Israel Matzav: MK barred from US?