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==Israel's response==
==Israel's response==
In the days prior to the launch of the initiative, Yitzhak Aharonovitch, Israel's Internal Security minister, said those intending to participate were "hooligans", and [[Benjamin Netanyahu]], the Prime Minister, said "Every country has the right to deny entrance of provocateurs and trouble-makers into its borders.<ref name=Kershner>[http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/09/world/middleeast/09mideast.html?_r=1 Israel Blocks Flights to Protest Gathering]</ref><ref name=CNN1/> Israeli officials ordered a heightened security presence at the airport.<ref name=Kershner/> Local media dubbed the initiative a "flightilla", referencing the stymied attempt of the [[Freedom Flotilla II]] to break the [[Gaza blockade]], and disseminated reports that the international visitors would attempt to create chaos at the airport.<ref name=Kershner/>
In the days prior to the launch of the initiative, Yitzhak Aharonovitch, Israel's Internal Security minister, said those intending to participate were "hooligans", and [[Benjamin Netanyahu]], the Prime Minister, said "Every country has the right to deny entrance of provocateurs and trouble-makers into its borders.<ref name=Kershner>[http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/09/world/middleeast/09mideast.html?_r=1 Israel Blocks Flights to Protest Gathering]</ref><ref name=CNN1/> Israeli officials ordered a heightened security presence at the airport.<ref name=Kershner/> Local media dubbed the initiative a "flightilla", referencing the stymied attempt of the [[Freedom Flotilla II]] to break the [[Gaza blockade]], and disseminated reports that the international visitors would attempt to create chaos at the airport.<ref name=Kershner/> Activists said they were only planning nonviolent activities, and took issue with what they described as a smear campaign launched by Israel against them.<ref name=Federman/>


Israel's Interior Ministry sent a letter with a list of 342 passengers it described as "pro-Palestinian radicals" to foreign airlines notifying them that these people would be refused entry.<ref name=KershnerGlobe>[http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2011/07/09/israel_blocks_travelers_to_stop_west_bank_event/ Israel blocks travelers to stop West Bank event]</ref> Airlines were asked to prevent these passengers from boarding, and were warned that if they were allowed to fly into Tel Aviv, they would be sent back again on the same aircraft.<ref name=KershnerGlobe/> Several airlines did as Israel requested, among them [[Lufthansa]], [[Swiss International Airlines]] and [[EasyJet]].<ref name=KershnerGlobe/><ref name=Swissinfo>[http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/politics/Flytilla_passengers_grounded_in_Switzerland.html?cid=30643582 “Flytilla” passengers grounded in Switzerland]</ref> Donzel Jean Claude, spokesman for Swiss Air said that this issue is regulated by the [[International Civil Aviation Organization]] and that airlines are "legally obliged" not to board passengers for whom they have information from the destination country that these people will not be allowed to enter. Dr Mark Ellis, executive director of the [[International Bar Association]] said that "every country has the right to say who can and who cannot enter its borders. It's a controversial matter, but not illegal".<ref>{{cite web |url= http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/features/2011/07/201178123322534460.html |title=Israel's no fly zone - Features - Al Jazeera English |first=Dahr |last=Jamail |work=english.aljazeera.net |year=2011 |accessdate=10 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4092857,00.html |title=Who's behind the 'flytilla'? - Israel News, Ynetnews |first= |last= |work=ynetnews.com |year=2011 |accessdate=10 July 2011}}</ref>
Israel's Interior Ministry sent a letter with a list of 342 passengers it described as "pro-Palestinian radicals" to foreign airlines notifying them that these people would be refused entry.<ref name=KershnerGlobe>[http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2011/07/09/israel_blocks_travelers_to_stop_west_bank_event/ Israel blocks travelers to stop West Bank event]</ref> Airlines were asked to prevent these passengers from boarding, and were warned that if they were allowed to fly into Tel Aviv, they would be sent back again on the same aircraft.<ref name=KershnerGlobe/> Several airlines did as Israel requested, among them [[Lufthansa]], [[Swiss International Airlines]] and [[EasyJet]].<ref name=KershnerGlobe/><ref name=Swissinfo>[http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/politics/Flytilla_passengers_grounded_in_Switzerland.html?cid=30643582 “Flytilla” passengers grounded in Switzerland]</ref> Donzel Jean Claude, spokesman for Swiss Air said that this issue is regulated by the [[International Civil Aviation Organization]] and that airlines are "legally obliged" not to board passengers for whom they have information from the destination country that these people will not be allowed to enter. Dr Mark Ellis, executive director of the [[International Bar Association]] said that "every country has the right to say who can and who cannot enter its borders. It's a controversial matter, but not illegal".<ref>{{cite web |url= http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/features/2011/07/201178123322534460.html |title=Israel's no fly zone - Features - Al Jazeera English |first=Dahr |last=Jamail |work=english.aljazeera.net |year=2011 |accessdate=10 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4092857,00.html |title=Who's behind the 'flytilla'? - Israel News, Ynetnews |first= |last= |work=ynetnews.com |year=2011 |accessdate=10 July 2011}}</ref>

Revision as of 18:34, 10 July 2011

Welcome to Palestine is an initiative of 30 Palestinian civil society organizations in the West Bank to welcome hundreds of internationals to participate in a series of events between 8-16 July 2011.[1] According to organizers, the aim is to show solidarity with the Palestinian people, and to draw attention to Israel's border policies and life under Israeli occupation.[2][3] Israeli officials described those participating as "hooligans" and "provocateurs," and defended their right to deny entry to the activists.[4]

Participants and aims

Organizers estimated 600 to 1,000 international activists planned to participate, with delegations from France, Great Britain, Belgium, Sweden, Germany, the USA, Japan and several African countries.[1][5] Olivia Zemor, a French activist said about half the participants were French and ranged in age from 9 to 89.[3]

As Palestinians have no airport of their own and Israel controls all the exits and entrances to the West Bank, upon arrival on 8 July in Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, the international activists were to openly declare their intent to go to occupied Palestinian territory to Israeli immigration officials.[5][1] Activists say Israel's prejudicial border policies prompt visitors intending to travel to Palestinian areas to lie about their destination and this initiative aims to draw attention to the right of Palestinians to receive visitors.[5][1] [2]

Those who do manage to enter are to take part in a week of peaceful solidarity events organized by Palestinian civil society groups beginning in Bethlehem and Ramallah on 9 July.[1][4] According to the New York Times, the Palestinian organizers include "well-known advocates of non-violent protest like Sami Awad of the Bethlehem-based Holy Land Trust and Mazin Qumsiyeh, a science professor at Bethlehem University."[4]

Israel's response

In the days prior to the launch of the initiative, Yitzhak Aharonovitch, Israel's Internal Security minister, said those intending to participate were "hooligans", and Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister, said "Every country has the right to deny entrance of provocateurs and trouble-makers into its borders.[4][2] Israeli officials ordered a heightened security presence at the airport.[4] Local media dubbed the initiative a "flightilla", referencing the stymied attempt of the Freedom Flotilla II to break the Gaza blockade, and disseminated reports that the international visitors would attempt to create chaos at the airport.[4] Activists said they were only planning nonviolent activities, and took issue with what they described as a smear campaign launched by Israel against them.[3]

Israel's Interior Ministry sent a letter with a list of 342 passengers it described as "pro-Palestinian radicals" to foreign airlines notifying them that these people would be refused entry.[6] Airlines were asked to prevent these passengers from boarding, and were warned that if they were allowed to fly into Tel Aviv, they would be sent back again on the same aircraft.[6] Several airlines did as Israel requested, among them Lufthansa, Swiss International Airlines and EasyJet.[6][7] Donzel Jean Claude, spokesman for Swiss Air said that this issue is regulated by the International Civil Aviation Organization and that airlines are "legally obliged" not to board passengers for whom they have information from the destination country that these people will not be allowed to enter. Dr Mark Ellis, executive director of the International Bar Association said that "every country has the right to say who can and who cannot enter its borders. It's a controversial matter, but not illegal".[8][9]

By 9 July, Israeli authorities had questioned hundreds of airline passengers who had arrived at Ben Gurion Airport, and detained 124 people. Four were deported, and the rest, some 76 women and 38 men, were taken to Ela and Givon prisons in Israel, where Israeli officials say they will be held until they are deported.[10]

Upon arrival, the international and Israeli activists faced harassment and physical abuse from some Israelis in Ben Gurion International Airport.[11][12]

Welcome to Palestine representatives in Bethlehem said legal action would be taken to challenge Israel's response.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Israel blocks pro-Palestinian 'flytilla' activists
  2. ^ a b c Israeli officials detain pro-Palestinian protesters at airport By Kevin Flower, CNN
  3. ^ a b c Josef Federman (7 July, 2011). "Israel braces for airport showdown with activists". Associated Press. Retrieved 2011-07-10. They say they are on a weeklong mission to express solidarity with the Palestinians and draw attention to life under Israeli occupation, including travel restrictions. Zemor said about half of the activists are French, ranging in age from nine to 85. Others are expected to fly to Tel Aviv from other cities, including Geneva, London, Brussels and Istanbul. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ a b c d e f Israel Blocks Flights to Protest Gathering
  5. ^ a b c Welcome to Palestine – if you can get in
  6. ^ a b c Israel blocks travelers to stop West Bank event
  7. ^ “Flytilla” passengers grounded in Switzerland
  8. ^ Jamail, Dahr (2011). "Israel's no fly zone - Features - Al Jazeera English". english.aljazeera.net. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  9. ^ "Who's behind the 'flytilla'? - Israel News, Ynetnews". ynetnews.com. 2011. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  10. ^ 50 'flytilla' activists enter West Bank
  11. ^ Dana, Joseph (8 July 2011). "More than 100 arrested at TLV airport, moved to Israeli prison". +972. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  12. ^ "'Fly In' Activists on Mass Deportation from Israel". therealnews.com. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
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