New York City – Today, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Queens & Brooklyn), author of the Saudi Arabia Accountability Act, called on President Bush to deny travel visas to Saudi travelers until the Saudi government provides a full explanation of their visa policies towards Jews.  According to the Saudis’ official tourism website, travel visas to enter the Kingdom will not be issued to “Jewish People.”

            Currently, Saudi Arabia only issues travel visas for employment, pilgrimages and other visits that receive official sanction.  But over the next few weeks, the Kingdom will begin issuing tourist visas.

            However, according to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s tourism website, located at http://www.sauditourism.gov.sa/sct/indexb.php, there are four categories of people who will not be issued travel visas, including “Jewish People.”  Also prohibited from receiving a visa is “[a]n Israeli passport holder or passport that has an Israel arrival/departure stamp.”

            Today, Rep. Weiner called on President Bush to close U.S. borders to Saudis until their visa policy is clarified and, if the policy proves to be true, to maintain closure until it is changed.  “No expensive public relations campaign can undo the stain of this kind of explicit anti-Semitism,” said Rep. Weiner.  “This is yet another example of the Saudi do one thing but say another modus operandi.”