Arab delegation hands petition to Clinton on Lebanon

Arab American Leaders on Friday handed President Bill Clinton a petition signed by more than 1,000 individuals calling for the United States to condemn Israeli attacks against Lebanese civilians and infrastructure.

The petition was presented at a White House meeting with the President where a wide range of subjects were discussed.

Lebanon, along with the Middle East Peace Process and Iraq, topped the list of Arab American Foreign Policy concerns, According to those attending the Session.

The delegation meeting with Clinton encouraged his Administration to take a more active role in the stalled peace talks between Palestinians and Israelis.

The Arab American Leaders also raised their concerns over individuals of Arab descent being jailed wholly on the basis of secret evidence, The government-sanctioned practice of Airport passenger profiling and unjust provisions in 1996 Immigration reform laws adopted by the U.S. Progress.

They urged Clinton to support a legislative proposal introduced in Capitol hill to repeal the practice of using secret evidence to detain individuals.

They said that the President responded positively to some Provisions of the Immigration reform act that could restore Social service benefit to Immigrants.

They told Clinton this move would have a positive impact on hundreds of thousands of Arab Americans.

Jim Zogby, President of the Arab American Institute (AAI) in Washington, said after the meeting that the Clinton Administration has been the most receptive to Arab American concerns.