Discussion » Questions » Current Events and News » Biden Admin demands promissory notes to be signed before they help rescue Americans stuck in Israel. Is this normal procedure?

Biden Admin demands promissory notes to be signed before they help rescue Americans stuck in Israel. Is this normal procedure?

Email to citizens asking for help:

The situation in Israel is still unpredictable; mortar and rocket fire may take place without warning. Please continue to follow the instructions of security and emergency response officials. Commercial flights are available but limited. If you wish to leave Israel, we encourage you to take advantage of those options now. U.S. carriers have temporarily suspended flights to Israel, if you choose to depart, you will need to fly to an intermediate location and book onward travel from there to the United States.

We understand there is high demand from U.S. citizens wishing to depart and the flight options are reduced. In the coming days we hope to assist U.S. citizens with transportation options to depart Israel. Due to the large numbers of U.S. citizens indicating interest in departure assistance, we will plan to offer transit over several days. If you choose to take this departure assistance, transportation may be by air or sea and will be to a nearby safe location and not to the United States. Travelers should be prepared to arrange their own lodging at the safe location and pay for their own onward travel from the third country to their chosen destination. Departure assistance is provided via a loan from the U.S. government which requires travelers to sign a promissory note (an agreement to repay) prior to departure.

Posted - October 12, 2023

Responses


  • 13277
    Especially for taking the presidency, to which Trump and his base think he’s entitled.
      October 14, 2023 12:38 PM MDT
    1

  • 17596
    Where did this come from?  I don't know if it is from government or a private entity getting Americans out of Israel. 
      October 13, 2023 2:49 PM MDT
    2

  • 34283
    This is the email from the US gov to US citizens requesting their assistance getting out of Israel. This post was edited by my2cents at October 13, 2023 4:41 PM MDT
      October 13, 2023 4:39 PM MDT
    0

  • 11006
    Whether we agree or not, this is US law. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/emergencies/for-evacuated-citizens.html

    T
    hat said, I know of two instances, evacuations from Afghanistan and Lebanon, where this requirement was not enforced. There may be more. In 2020, when 10,000 citizens were evacuated from all over the globe due to the pandemic, they were expected to pay.

    I expect that this was a standard response to citizens who request assistance and that decisions regarding exceptions are made after the fact.


      October 13, 2023 9:14 PM MDT
    3