Tel Aviv airport becomes no-go for pro-Palestinian demonstrators
Israel has stopped a group of fly-in demonstrators at Tel Aviv airport.
International activists who had intended launching a "Welcome to Palestine" campaign in the West Bank were blocked as they tried to fly to Israel from foreign countries.
Hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists were told at airline counters in Europe they had been placed on an Israeli blacklist.
Some activists who managed to arrive at Tel Aviv airport were detained by police and were given deportation notices.
According to Ynetnews, they were also handed an official letter from the government of Israel, which criticized the activists for making Israel the brunt of humanitarian criticism.
The letter said the protesters could have protested instead against Syria, Iran or Hamas.
It continued: "But instead you chose to protest against Israel, the Middle East's sole democracy, where women are equal, the press criticizes the government, human rights organisations can operate freely, religious freedom is protected for all and minorities do not live in fear. Therefore we suggest to let you solve first the real problems of the region, and then come back and share with us your experience. Have a nice flight."
Israeli officials said they had been following the campaign on Facebook and feared there would be disruptions had the protest been able to proceed.
"Welcome to Palestine" organisers have accused Israel of blocking a peace mission.
Israeli media has been critical of the government, calling the incident an "over-reaction."
Source: Middle East News.Net
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