Israel detains 30-pro Palestinian activists upon arrival at airport

[News_Editor]

Israel detains 30-pro Palestinian activists upon arrival at airport

2011-07-08 23:13:55 GMT+7 (ICT)

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL (BNO NEWS) -- Israeli Security Forces on Friday detained 30 pro-Palestinian activists as they arrived to a Tel Aviv airport and prevented them from entering the country, the Haaretz newspaper reported.

Ten of the activists arrived on an easyJet flight while the other 20 were flying with Italy's Alitalia. The individuals intended to enter Israel as part of the 'Welcome to Palestine' campaign which included solidarity visits to Palestinian territories.

Earlier on Friday, security forces arrested six Israelis who arrived at the Ben-Gurion International Airport carrying signs reading "Free Gaza" and other pro-Palestinian slogans.

Furthermore, two U.S. citizens were not allowed entrance to Israel at the airport. The two women intended to participate in the pro-Palestinian "fly-in" and arrived from Athens. Police sent them on an outbound flight back to Greece.

All the activists that have been detained were taken for questioning by law enforcement agents. Police has deployed undercover agents at Ben-Gurion Airport as more "air flotilla" participants are expected to arrive during the weekend.

Israel's Transportation Ministry previously issued a list of 342 passengers, including 200 activists, who are expected to arrive at Ben-Gurion and that will not be allowed to enter the country. The document was submitted to all airlines, local and foreign.

On Wednesday, Israel deported five pro-Palestinian activists to their home countries Belgium and France as reports surfaced that about 600 to 1,200 activists will arrive on Thursday night and Friday, on flights from Moscow and New York in support to the Gaza-bound aid flotilla.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu authorized security forces to act firmly against protests as it is expected that demonstrators will gather in or around the airport. He, however, ordered law enforcement to avoid "unnecessary altercations."

The mass influx of activists came ahead of the arrival of the Gaza-bound aid flotilla. The 'Freedom Flotilla II' consists of ten ships carrying more than 500 Palestinian activists from around the world. Currently, seven vessels are still docked in Greece under authorities' orders, two were sabotaged and rendered unable to sail and a French one is en route towards Gaza Strip.

In May 2010, nine pro-Palestinian activists were killed and dozens more were injured when Israeli commandos boarded a ship participating in the 'Freedom Flotilla I'. The incident caused global outrage over alleged excessive force, but Israel has denied that and said its commandos were being attacked.

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