The “Entry Law,” adopted by the Israeli Knesset on March 6, 2017, bans entry to Israel of foreign national who support or publicly engage in boycotts of either Israel or West Bank settlements, whether they do it individually or are affiliated with organizations that endorse such practices. This law uniquely affects APN, a Zionist, pro-Israel organization that advocates for boycotts of the settlements and the occupation while strongly rejecting boycotts, divestment and sanctions (BDS) targeting Israel.
APN's President and CEO Debra DeLee said: “This new draconian law is a severe blow to Israeli democracy. It is aimed at a basic civil liberty, the freedom of expression, and will severely harm Israel by keeping out some of its greatest supporters, including Americans for Peace Now…We are a Zionist, pro-Israel organization, which cares about Israel's future as a democracy and a Jewish state. As such, we oppose the occupation and the settlements and call on our supporters to express this view by boycotting settlements. It would be absurd for the government of Israel to block us from visiting the country we love and care so much about because we chose to express a legitimate view in a legitimate way.”
APN commentary & analysis
- 1/8/18 APN Opposes Israel’s Entry Law Blacklist
- 7/19/17 APN briefing call on anti-democratic legislation in Israel with ACRI's Debbi Gild-Hayo
- 7/17/17 Sign Our Petition: Don't Ban Americans Who Peacefully Oppose Israeli Policies
- 6/14/17 APN "Entry Law" Testimonials
- 4/20/17 Annual Study Tour Canceled – Letter to Prospective Participants
- 3/17/17 Thought that Israel’s new “Entry Law” was bad? Well, it’s worse!
- 3/09/17 Haaretz: Am I Too Dangerous to Enter Israel? By Letty Cottin Pogrebin, APN Board Member
- 3/06/17 Press Release: APN Condemns New Israeli Law Banning Entry of Foreign Nationals who Call for Settlement Boycotts
- 1/31/17 (Updated 3/06/17) Israel’s “Entry Bill” – Indefensible & Undemocratic
- 1/31/17 Take Action: Tell Amb Dermer – American Jews Appalled, Outraged by “Entry Bill”
- 1/30/17 (Updated 3/06/17) Israel’s “Entry Law”: What It Is and What It Means
Media coverage & other resources
- 1/7/2018 Israel Publishes BDS Blacklist: These Are the 20 Groups Whose Members Will Be Denied Entry
- 7/28/17: Ha'aretz Editorial: Israel's anti=BDS Blacklists
- 7/28/17: LA Times Editorial: Israel should stop trying to wall out its critics
- 5/03/17: New York Jewish Week: Travel Ban Law Roiling Birthright, Liberals
- 4/26/17 URJ: URJ President Rabbi Rick Jacobs Asks Prime Minister Netanyahu About Israel’s Entry Ban And Reform Judaism’s North American Trips
- 4/24/17 JTA: Americans for Peace Now cancels annual Israel trip over anti-boycott law
- 4/23/17 Haaretz: First Jewish – American Group Cancels Trip to Israel Over Travel Ban Against Boycott Supporters