MP's group refused Israel entry (British Parliamentarian group)

[IndianaGreen]

Do I detect a bunker mentality?

MP's group refused Israel entry

An MP and eight other British women have been deported from Israel while on a trip to build links between Ramallah and Birmingham.

Israeli authorities ordered them out of the country after they arrived at Tel Aviv airport from the Midlands.

In May 2005 some of the same group were refused entry to Israel.

It includes Birmingham Selly Oak MP Dr Lynne Jones, Yvonne Washbrook president of Birmingham Trades Council, and Respect party councillor Salma Iqbal.

The trip aimed to build links with women in the region following a number of fund raising efforts by Birmingham's Ramallah Twinning Committee.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/5229262.stm

[mom cat]

1. Blessed are the peace makers.

Heaven help them.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Simply unbelievable.

Pulling out all the stops, apparently!

From the article:

They were warned that they faced jail if they refused to get on a plane home.

Birmingham's Ramallah Twinning Committee chairman Kamel Hawwash said: "We are very shocked that this should happen again.

[UndertheOcean]

3. That not new News , Its general Israeli Policy..

Deport anyone who tries to help the Palestinians , they don't want another Rachel Corrie.

[IndianaGreen]

5. Israel has no more business in Palestine than Saddam did in Kuwait

If you want peace, you must begin by returning lands taken in 1967.

[UndertheOcean]

8. But they covet that land .. they call it Judiah and Samaria ..and

unlike Gaza , it has water resources ?

How can they return their prize ?

[IndianaGreen]

10. There is no room for faith-based foreign policy

Most Israelis do not share in the crazy theology of the Gaza settlers.

[UndertheOcean]

12. Hope not ...

Although the 92% that are in support of Lebanons Destruction doesn't give me much faith in the Israeli public right now.

[Igel]

4. Didn't I read a couple of weeks ago that the

West Bank was closed to foreigners?

With even Palestinians that are residents or dual citizens in other countries denied access?

If so, and the status holds, I wonder why they'd try this, knowing they'd be denied entry. Even if one is an MP. :sarcasm:

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. Since the current Foreign Office advice is

"against all but essential travel to the West Bank" (27th July), you would seem to be mistaken.

[Igel]

7. That doesn't answer the question.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/2C4D96C4-31A0-43DA-99F3-BC3CA15DF85A.htm

But it's aljazeera, not noted for the utmost in reliable reporting when there are pride-and-dignity points to be scored.

But it is completely possible for the British website to be accurate in reflecting the official advice, but omit the fact that they wouldn't be allowed in by the Israelis--although I'd certainly expect the British (or the parallel American site) to simply say it was forbidden.

In any event, it's a privilege, not a right.

[UndertheOcean]

9. But the WB is not Israel..

??

[Ghost Dog]

15. They are known as the "Occupied Territories."

around here (Western Mediterranean).

Yes, a return to negotiating around a return to pre-1967 or indeed 1967 borders would appear to be what many intelligent, sensitive voices I am hearing, from many involved parties, are saying.

Combined with, of course, real sovereignty, peace, water and strong security for all.

[muriel_volestrangler]

13. It's seems clear from your link that it wasn't a complete ban on entry

just people that the Israelis take an irrational dislike to. So your link, and mine, show that the West Bank was not 'closed to foreigners', and so trying to send a delegation to the West Bank was a perfectly reasonable thing to do. They discussed it with the Israeli embassy beforehand.

[lumpy]

11. Tel Aviv is not in the West Bank

It is in Israel.

[ShockediSay]

14. I understand they treat Christian street corner preachers as badly

or worse.