As preparations in Israel continue for next week’s 20 Nissan 5773 visit by US President Barak Obama, the US Embassy has invited student body representatives from all of Israel’s universities to attend a guest lecture by the president with the exception of the University of Ariel.

Learning of this, MKs from the Bayit Yehudi party accuse the Americans of discrimination. MK Yoni Chetboun spoke with the head of the student council in Ariel; with the latter explaining students are quite angry realizing they have been discriminated against.

MK Chetboun sent a letter to US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapira, explaining his bewilderment over the American move. “Ariel University is recognized by the Government of Israel. By boycotting its students you are adopting a one-sided policy while you maintain this is not so” he writes.

The chareidi opposition has begun. Yahadut Hatorah MK Yaakov Litzman called the MK’s attitude “hypocritical”, citing he and his colleagues see nothing wrong with discriminating against an entire segment of the nation, the chareidim, while here, when a few students are not invited to the event, he is shouting “discrimination” against the US.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)