- 8 juli 2011
Israelis Control The Europeans Airports Boarding, Video
(1:59) Palestine: checkpoint à Paris
video shot by the team of “Palestine will live” last Thursday at the airport of Roissy-Charles de Gaulle.
All European countries have turned into puppets of the Israeli zionist occupation. The Israeli interior intelligence “shin beit” and special forces wearing civil clothes were allowed by the various European governments to control boarding movement at the airports in several Europeans countries in order to prevent the citizens of these countries from flying into occupied Palestine to protest against the continuous closure of Gaza since 2006 and the occupation the West Bank since decades, in total for over 64 years.
The Israeli security forces appeared yesterday and today at European airports disguised as employees of Hungarian company MALEV, of Lufthansa and of Swiss Airline. The israelis disguised as employees of the Hungarian company MALEV at the French airport refused to allow thirty passengers bound for the mission of “Welcome to Palestine” to board on July 8, 2011.
The Hungarian company, but in reality these “israeli security forces” disguised as employees of MALEV confirms that they obey israeli orders to deny peace activists from travelling to Israel. The French police refused to accept or register passenger’s complaints against the Hungarian company MALEV and confirmed that it has received orders not to register any complaints against these illegal acts.
At the Geneva International Airport, 50 peace activists were prevented from boarding a flight to Israel. In Brussels, three French citizens were denied boarding a Swiss flight heading to Israel. About 100 passengers were prevented from boarding a Lufthansa flight at Paris’s Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport.
During the past months the European countries have worked hard to save the shameless face of the Israeli zionist occupation. In Greece, the corrupted country lead by a clique of zionists and which has stolen the country wholesale and brought disaster and poverty to the nation, prevented the flotilla of humanitarian ships from sailing to Gaza. In the UK, the corrupted British police captured and jailed a Palestinian political activist, Sheikh Raed Salah from Um al-Fahim in order to prevent him from giving a lecture at the Parliament.
In Ukraine, the traitorous government helped the israeli mossed to capture Palestinian engineer Abu Sissi on its territory, violating the sovereignty of their own state. And now, in a further display of subservience, the European countries have allowed the israeli intelligence to control their airports and have given their own police into the hands of the israeli police, thus helping to enforce a murderous and genocidal regime of criminals.
Meanwhile several pro-Palestinian peace activists succeeded in boarding airplanes to Palestine and arrived at Ben-Gurion airport on Friday, where the criminal israeli intelligence thugs and special forces detained 30 on board of EasyJet and Alitalia flights. Twelve were on board of the EasyJet flight and 20 were flying with the Italian airline Alitalia. Two Americans wearing “fly-in” T-shirts were refused entrance to Israel after landing at Ben-Gurion Airport. The peace activists were sent on an outbound flight back to Greece.
http://fwd4.me/06IR
Flytilla blocked: RT talks to only Gaza activist who 'slipped through net'
(2:36) Flytilla blocked: RT talks to only Gaza activist who 'slipped through net'
Hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists are being blocked in their attempts to reach Gaza by air as they try to defy Israeli policies. Many are being stopped at European airports, while several have been deported as they arrived in Tel Aviv. So far only one activist has managed to cross the Israeli border, and RT's Paula Slier has spoken to her
65 pro-Palestinian 'fly-in' activists transferred to detention facilities
Police estimate that bulk of events related to 'fly-in' have ended; four activists have already been deported.
Israel Police estimate that the bulk of events related to the pro-Palestinian 'fly-in' have ended.
Authorities are waiting for a Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt with a limited number of activists on board that is scheduled to land at Ben-Gurion International Airport on Friday night.
It is not clear exactly when that Lufthansa flight will arrive as the flight's departure from Frankfurt was delayed due to runway improvement work being conducted at Ben-Gurion Airport on Friday evening from 19:00 to 22:00.
Police called Friday's operations at Ben-Gurion Airport "successful" as most of the activists were identified and taken in for questioning during the afternoon hours.
A total of 310 arriving passengers have been questioned by the Immigration and Poulation Authority. 69 of the passengers were found to be "fly-in" activists and were denied entry to Israel. The others were found to be regular tourists and were permitted to enter Israel.
At this time, four of the 69 activists have been deported to their home countries. The rest have been sent to detention facilities until they can be deported.
Ten of the activists arrived on an easyJet flight, while another 20 came on an Alitalia flight. The rest arrived on other flights.
Earlier in the day, six Israelis arrived at the airport with signs supporting the "fly-in". Their demonstration was quickly broken up by police.
The flights landed at Ben-Gurion International Airport on Friday afternoon. When it became clear that there were activists on board, the planes were diverted to an area away from the main terminal and the activists were taken in by police for questioning.
http://fwd4.me/067e
Flytilla blocked in Europe
(2:03) Flytilla blocked in Europe - Press TV News
Angry at being denied boarding passes to Tel Aviv.
Over 600 European supporters of the Palestinian cause had planned to visit the West Bank and Jerusalem-Al-Quds.
But as they arrived at their airports such as London, Paris, Geneva, Brussels, they were denied check-in and boarding… under the orders of Israel.
Israel has issued a notice to all airlines, asking them to refuse carrying black listed passengers, that is, these passengers. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that it has the right to prevent entry of whom he called disrupters and provocateurs.
But these passengers say not only they have the right to leave their own borders, but also Israel’s actions are illegal.
Over the past weeks and months, Israel has blocked humanitarian flotillas from entering Gaza, with many of them now blocked in Greek waters.
The demonstrators behind me say that they will not stop and that more demonstrations will take place to protest against Israel’s blockade of Gaza.
But for these demonstrators, being black listed by ISrael is a sharp reminder of the Second World War.
These passengers say they will take up the matter at the United Nations.
http://fwd4.me/066g
Tension in Tel Aviv as hundreds-strong "flytilla" due to arrive
(3:34) Tension in Tel Aviv as hundreds-strong "flytilla" due to arrive
Hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists are trying to reach blockaded Gaza by air, after several ships among an aid flotilla were forced to dock in Greece. Ramped-up Israeli security is waiting for them at Tel-Aviv's largest international airport.
Tensions ahead of the "flytilla" arrival are running high at Ben Gurion Airport some 15 kilometers southeast of Tel Aviv. A handful of local protestors were holding up signs saying "welcome to Gaza", and "free Palestine" supporting arriving activists, while Israeli passengers were shouting "traitors, go to Syria!" Almost immediately the police shuffled local protestors out of the terminal building into waiting police vans outside.
Israel's Foreign Ministry said an unspecified number of activists had been allowed through the terminal without incident, although Israel has not publicized any criteria for denying entry.
The air blockade is more or less preventing activists from arriving at the airport. A flight that arrived from Geneva with some 50 activists aboard has been diverted to another terminal. Two American citizens who arrived in Tel-Aviv have already been deported.
Meanwhile, a protest broke out in a Paris airport after passengers were prevented from boarding flights to Israel. About 150 people shouted anti-Israel slogans, sitting on the check-in desks at Charles de Gaulle airport, the Associated Press reported.
Some 600 activists are expected to arrive on Friday by 15 different planes to show their support for the Palestinian people. They are converging at Ben Gurion International Airport. Outside and inside the airport there are some 500-600 police and security officers on standby. The situation remains tense, with some journalists sarcastically commenting that one might think the police are expecting an invading army rather than peaceful protestors.
The action was dubbed "a flytilla" as opposed to the flotilla which has been held up in Greece with some ten ships being refused permission by Athens to sail to Gaza. Activists say they want to highlight the plight of people not only in Gaza but also across the West Bank and throughout Palestinian territory.
The activists announced that they intend to travel to Palestinian territories and have a number of activities planned over the next week, although they expected that Israeli authorities will not allow them to carry out their actions. The campaign is non-violent, organizers stressed.
http://rt.com/news/flytilla-arrive-israel-activists/ 9 jul 2011, 11:11 , Respect -
Maria
Flying to Ben Gurion Airport For Palestinian Freedom
Press Release sent by Dr. Gabi Weber – Today July 8th we are flying for Palestinian freedom – and for our own
Hundreds of internationals on their way to visit Palestinians in Gaza have been prevented from departing from the ports in Greece. However, we hope that on July 8th, 2011, hundreds of others of us from many countries will succeed in reaching Palestine by flying to Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv. We have been invited by some forty Palestinian organizations to “Welcome to Palestine,” a week of activities in Palestine.
It should be a wonderful visit, but most of us are frankly a bit scared. This is because of one decision we’ve all made: to tell the truth that our plan is to visit Palestine. It should be so simple, shouldn’t it? But it is not, because Israel controls all access to Palestine – by air, and by land, as well as by sea.
Even the website of the U.S. State Department warns of “prolonged questioning and thorough searches by Israeli authorities upon entry or departure,” of particularly “probing questioning” visited upon “U.S. citizens whom Israeli authorities suspect of being of Arab, Middle Eastern, or Muslim origin,” who are frequently denied entry. This is also true of visitors who are suspected to sympathize with Palestinians. The U.S. and the European countries refuse to protect their own citizens against these abuses by Israeli authorities.
The draconian and discriminating procedures at the borders of Israel have but one aim: to further isolate Palestinians and reinforce their inferior status; to trap them, away from any outside witnesses, in an increasingly constrictive maze of bantustans, separated by checkpoints and walls. By failing to insist that Israel allow travel to Palestine, our western governments support Israel’s apartheid policies.
In fact, occupied territory is not sovereign territory and Israel’s authority over the occupied Palestinian territories is subject to international humanitarian law. This authority does not include the right to arbitrarily deny entry of foreign passport holders wishing to visit, reside, or work in the occupied Palestinian territories. See http://fwd4.me/06IU
We are flying to Ben Gurion on July 8th to visit friends in Palestine, and we insist that our own governments support us in doing so. Supporting our visit to Palestine will be one small step towards bringing about the freedom of movement for all the peoples of Israel/Palestine that is essential for peace and justice in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, the israeli intelligence “Shin Biet” at the so-called the “israel’s interior ministry” and the ministry of transportation handed foreign airlines a list of 300 people who have been blacklisted by Israel. On Wednesday July 7 2011, the Hungarian airline Malev stopped dozens of French peace activists heading for a pro-Palestinian fly-in to Israel from boarding a plane in Paris.
Press Contacts:
PALESTINE: Dr. Mazin Qumsiyeh, [email protected], +972(0)598939532
JERUSALEM: Sergio Yahni, [email protected], +972(0)526375032
FRANCE: Nicolas Shahshahani, [email protected]
GERMANY: Sophia Deeg, [email protected], +49(0)88 007761, +49(0)1799878414
UK: Sofiah MacLeod, [email protected]. uk,+44(0)7931 200 36100, +44(0)131 620 0052
USA : Karin Pally, [email protected] or kpally@earthlink .net, +1 310-399-1921
English articles and stories on the event
http://dissidentvoice.org/2011/06/challenging-racism-by-israelis-on-every-front/
http://www.alternet.org/news/151491/activists_challenge_israel’s_other_blockade_by_air
Other related websites/links:
http://www.righttoenter.ps
http://www.palestinejn.org
http://bienvenuepalestine.com (French and English)
http://www.kopi-online.de/8juli2011/ (German)
http://fwd4.me/06IT
Gaza 'Flytilla' activists arrested for chanting 'Free Palestine' in Tel Aviv airport
(2:47) Gaza 'Flytilla' activists arrested for chanting 'Free Palestine' in Tel Aviv airport
RT crew filmed the arrest of pro-Gaza activists, who were detained for chanting "Free Palestine". Police in Israel detained several activists who arrived at Tel Aviv's international airport on Friday to show their support for activists arriving from abroad to take part in pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
The arrested protesters arrived in Tel Aviv from elsewhere in Israel. It comes as first Hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists are being blocked in their attempts to reach Gaza by air and defy Israeli policies. Many are being stopped at European airports, while two American campaigners have been deported upon arrival in Tel Aviv. The move comes a week after a flotilla of a dozen ships bound for Gaza were prevented from leaving port in Greece.
Israel questions dozens of pro-Palestinian 'fly-in' activists attempting to enter country
55 pro-Palestinian activists have either been questioned or are still undergoing questioning by authorities after arriving on flights at Ben-Gurion Airport.
Security forces have questioned 25 pro-Palestinian activists attempting to enter Israel via Ben-Gurion International Airport on Friday as part of an attempt to stymie an influx of activists into the country.
Another 30 activists are still being questioned.
Ten of the activists arrived on an easyJet flight, while another 20 came on an Alitalia flight. The rest arrived on other airlines.
Earlier in the day, six Israelis who arrived at the airport with signs reading "Free Gaza". Their demonstration was quickly broken up by police.
The flights landed at Ben-Gurion International Airport on Friday afternoon. When it became clear that there were activists on board, the planes were diverted to an area away from the main terminal and the activists were detained by police.
Israel has thus far been successful in preventing the entry of 200 passengers wishing to come to Israel as part of the Welcome to Palestine campaign, which had organized a "fly-in" to the Middle East this weekend for solidarity visits in the Palestinian territories.
The 200 activists were on a list of 342 blacklisted passengers scheduled to arrive in Israel on Thursday and Friday, submitted by the Transportation Ministry to foreign airlines on Thursday.
Earlier Friday, two American citizens planning to take part in the pro-Palestinian "fly-in", were refused entrance to Israel after landing at Ben-Gurion Airport, and were sent on an outbound flight back to Greece.
The women, wearing “fly-in” T-shirts, flew in from Athens and were stopped by the Israeli police, who decided to decrease security presence at the airport on Thursday evening, saying it no longer expects mass fly-in activists, because most of them had been already stopped abroad.
The women were questioned and after stating the reason for their visit, Israel Police sent them on an outbound flight due to their intention to create provocations and disrupt the peace.
http://fwd4.me/066N
Swiss deny activist flights to Israel
The Geneva airport has prevented nearly 50 pro-Palestinian activists from boarding their flight to Tel Aviv following a demand by the Israeli Interior Ministry.
Airport spokeswoman Aline Yazgin said, however, that she was not aware why the activist flights were blocked, but that it could have been due to a shutdown in security areas after a French pro-Palestinian group tried to pass through airports security doorways, AFP reported.
As the second Freedom Flotilla has been hindered on several occasions from reaching the impoverished Gaza Strip, activists planned to instead fly to Israel to attend a mass rally in the occupied West Bank before heading for Gaza.
Some 600 had joined the initiative called “Flytilla.”
As a response, Israel released a list to international airlines requesting them to block 342 passengers for their pro-Palestinian activities.
"Israel has given airlines a list of 342 unwanted people, warning them that they will be immediately turned back at the expense of the companies," said an Israeli immigration spokeswoman.
It has been reported that some 200 activists have already been refused to board flights destined to airports in occupied Palestine.
Israel has already boosted security measures at Tel Aviv's Ben-Gurion International Airport on the grounds that the activists planned to "arrive on commercial flights from abroad to disrupt order and confront security forces at friction points."
"Hundreds of trained police officers are deployed inside and around Ben Gurion (airport) in order to counter any development or event," said an Israeli police spokesman.
Olivia Zemor, organizer of the French delegation of "Welcome to Palestine,” however, said she did not understand who had invented the story behind the activists seeking to disrupt any order, emphasizing that they “are only coming to visit the West Bank and show solidarity with the Palestinian people."
French authorities have also barred eight activists from boarding flights to Tel Aviv.
The first Freedom Flotilla was blocked from reaching the impoverished Gaza Strip by a brutal Israeli military attack on the relief aid convoy in international waters of the Mediterranean Sea on May 31, 2010. Nine Turkish activists were killed by the Israeli military and 50 others were injured. Nearly 700 activists were also detained in the horrific incident before being released two days later.
The Israeli regime imposed a punishing total blockage on Gaza in 2007 after the Hamas Islamic resistance movement was democratically elected into power and took control of the tiny territory.
Currently, some 1.5 million residents of Gaza are being denied their basic rights, including freedom of movement, the right to decent standard of living as well as the right to proper employment, education and healthcare.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/188144.html
France bars activist flights to Israel
French authorities have barred pro-Palestinian activists from taking a flight to Israel in a bid to visit their Palestinian friends and families.
“The activists departing for Tel Aviv could not take the flight and those who managed to board the plane were taken off by French police,” a Press TV correspondent reported.
The Press TV reporter emphasizes that French authorities have no legal rights to bar activists from boarding flights to Tel Aviv and the measure surprised even Air France employees who described the air carrier's decision as 'unprecedented in the last 40 years.'
France has reportedly taken the measure to block the journey of the pro-Palestinian activists to the occupied Palestine at the request of Israeli authorities.
Interior Ministry of the Tel Aviv regime has served international airlines with a blacklist of more than 300 individuals in an attempt to block flights of the activists to Israeli airports.
Israel has also beefed up security at its main international airport, ahead of the planned arrival of hundreds of the activists.
Hundreds of mostly European pro-Palestinian activists are expected to arrive in Israel within the framework of an initiative called "Flytilla."
The effort is considered as a complement to the Gaza Freedom Flotilla II relief aid convoy to deliver much-needed humanitarian supplies to its 1.5-million population.
The 10-ship humanitarian flotilla was supposed to leave Greek ports for the Gaza Strip in early July in a bid to break Israel's five-year blockade on the impoverished coastal territory.
The aid convoy, however, was prohibited from leaving the ports following a sudden decision by Athens to impose a blanket ban on departure of any vessels destined for Gaza.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/188141.html
The World: Protests at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport
(0:37) The World: Protests at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport
Matthew Bell: "Can't see much here, but a few activists just tried to put up a Palestinian flag at Ben Gurion Airport."
TWITTER
by ibnezra Joseph Dana
Belgian activists landing on a Swissair flight landed at Ben Gurion at 3 local time
At 3:10 local time, they were taken aside in the passport line and have not been heard from since
Haaretz is reporting that some activists have been taken off of a recently landed Easyjet flight
To my knowledge only three journalists have been escorted away from the airport
The American activists that were banned from the country yesterday were also passengers on the US boat to Gaza
Reported now that some of the French activists have arrived in Palestine despite the best efforts of Israel
Let's not forget that Israel will be making a lot of money testing out "security technology" today at Ben Gurion airport
nformation from activists on board: We are together and waiting for more French on the flight from Rome. We are waiting a lot
#airflotilla passengers SMSing to journalists that they are being moved to detention facilities and then most likely back to the EU.
TWITTER
by ibnezra Joseph Dana
Eli Yishai
Israeli activists are thinking of canceling their demo in the airport today because "arrest is definite
200 French passengers were stopped from boarding but many Germans and English had no problem getting on board
Cops everywhere in the airport. I have never seen so many here
Cameras set up everywhere in the arriving terminal
One of the more than 10 tv cameras set up at Ben Gurion airport ahead of the #airflotilla
Eli Yishai just said the interior ministry has stopped the 'entry of illegals' into israel
Eli Yishai, 'we have a list of people planing to hold illegal demonstrations in israel. They will be stopped
Eli Yishai just said they expect a plane full of 'illegals' will land soon in israel
Some israeli activists are here and they tell me there are TONS of undercover cops read to jump on them
It is a little tense here as the activists are getting ready to stage their demo in the airport. They will all be arrested
Soldiers and police are moving in packs of two or three around the airport. They are genuinely scared it seems
This is the scene at the airport right now. I would say one third of the crowd are activists or cops
Chaos here. Someone raised a palesinian flag
Police attacking the protesters It is total screaming chaos. Swearing at the airport now
Normal people are attacking the three protesters and screaming at them
I can see three people violently arrested. Police allowed passerbys to spit at them and curse them at ben gurion
Police are allowing people to attack protesters with fists in front of the press
Many of the protesters are woman and they are getting spit at by people and taxi drivers
People are chanting 'you are pieces of shit' in unison as the police do nothing
Two men and one woman arrested so far at ben gurion airport
Quiet now after this explosion of racist spitting and chanting at the airport
One israeli just hit the back of the head of a woman protester speaking to the media. In front of the police who did nothing
Police officers are even joking with hooligans who attacked the nonviolent protesters. Incredible
Another photo from BG airport right now
Recap: three protesters raised palestinian flags at the airport. They were attacked by ppl in the terminal as police arrested them
Israeli police allowed ppl in the terminal to scream, spit on and attack the protesters as they were being arrested
So far no #airflotilla passengers have been allowed into the country. The protesters arrested are all israelis
Most of the israelis in terminal began chanting 'go to syria' you are pieces of shit' when the pale flag was raised
Sorry if the pics are blurry. There was a lot of commotion at the airport
I saw a grown man punch on of the woman protesters in the head in front of 4 cops. Nothing happen to him.
Unconfirmed report that some passengers have made it through passport control. Working to confirm
Police are starting to demand press ids from photographers now. The situation does not feel under control
New York flights are landing so there are now tons of people in the terminal
PMO spokesman of Arabic media just insinuated that the israeli protesters arrested at the airport are 'connected to Hamas'
He told me that it is illegal to enter the West Bank 'without a military permit' and it is a clear provocation against Israel
Larry Deferner of the Jpost was arrested as he tried to protect one of the activists who was getting beaten up by Israeli passerbys
The journalists were escorted by internal security officers to a departing train
This is an unprecedented attack on press freedom in Israel
Journalists banned from the airport now believe that they were kicked out for political reasons
Larry Deferner of the JPost has been released from police custody. Naturally, working for the mouthpiece of the IDF comes with benefits
Israeli activist Matan Cohen among those arrested for chanting "free Palestine" inside terminal hall at Ben Gurion airport
Naturally, Ynet is publishing lies as they say that activists 'barred into the terminal hall" http://fwd4.me/065D
The Israeli activists which were arrested today arrived to the arrival hall roughly 45 mins before they were arrested
I spoke with PMO director of Arab media about the protesters and their goal. I can sum up his answers in one word: kaahamas.
Ben Gurion is basically a large media circus at this point with a lot of police, army and undercover cops
The chanting hordes of ppl in the terminal area which attacked protesters seemed to really enjoy taking out their anger by spitting
Why can't Israel maintain its occupation of the West Bank? People give the poor country such a hard time
Of course journalists should not be allowed to observe Israelis spitting on their own for supporting an end to occupation. Right?
Belgian activists landing on a Swissair flight landed at Ben Gurion at 3 local time
Ma'an interview: Welcomed in Palestine
BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Briditta, from Germany, arrived in the West Bank on Thursday.
"As a German, I feel somehow drawn to Israel because of our history," she told Ma'an, "but that does not mean I tolerate illegal behavior."
Briditta is looking forward to joining in with activities planned by Palestinian civil society organizations as part of the 'Welcome to Palestine' initiative over the following week.
"I will enjoy being together with a group from various countries," she said. She said she had met a few people who also arrived yesterday from European countries, and hoped more would be able to join.
Israeli immigration authorities issued a blacklist of 342 passengers not permitted to enter the country to international airlines, and up to 200 travelers have been barred from leaving their destinations.
A welcome committee for activists at Tel Aviv-area Ben Gurion airport was called off after reports that Israeli police would arrest them on arrival, organizers said, and journalists reported that three people who unfurled a Palestinian flag in the arrivals terminal were detained by Israeli police.
Briditta said she "expected" the blacklist, adding "it is bad enough ... but the point is that other governments are cooperating against international law."
"I knew it would turn out the way it is," she told Ma'an, "so I only contacted organizations to join activities when I arrived, so that my name is not known to the Israelis."
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=403416
Barghouti: Israeli 'hysteria' not stopping solidarity
RAMALLAH (Ma’an) -- Palestinian lawmaker Mustafa Barghouti said Friday that Israeli "hysteria" over international solidarity would not stop foreign peace activists.
Barghouti, who is head of the Palestinian National Initiative party, said the Israeli government had turned Ben Gurion airport into a "military post" and accused Israeli officials of "violating all international navigation laws that regulate flight."
He slammed Israel's pressure on international airlines to prevent activities from traveling to the Tel Aviv-area airport on Friday, and pressure on foreign governments to block ships aiming to sail to Gaza from leaving port last week.
International peace activists "will try to reach us, whether on ground or by air, to participate in the actions of the Palestinian popular resistance," Barghouti said.
The Israeli government has been "hit with hysteria because of the wide success of the solidarity movement with the struggle of our people," he said.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=403387
Gaza fly-in hits turbulence
Security forces brace for potential disruption at Ben Gurion International Airport. Two American women affiliated with fly-in to be deported; European airlines stop blacklisted passengers from boarding planes.
Is the Gaza fly-in fizzling out? Security forces were on high alert at Ben Gurion International Airport Friday, ahead of the potentially volatile "Gaza flytilla."
Order was maintained at the airport throughout the morning, as many foreign airlines implemented Israel's blacklisted activists memo, which was distributed on Thursday, and barred pro-Palestinian activists from boarding Israel-bound flights.
Two American activists, who arrived in Israel from Athens overnight as part of the fly-in, were refused entry by Ben Gurion Airport authorities.
The two women arrived at Israel's gates dressed in Gaza flotilla shirts. Border control officers who interviewed them, as they do every individual entering Israel through the airport, determined that "their expressed purpose was to disrupt public order and cause provocation."
They did not resist the proceeding and are set to be deported later Friday.
Interior Minister Eli Yishai said that Israel "will take a firm hand against anyone disregarding its laws, and like any other sovereign state we will use any means at our disposal to prevent people intent on breaking the law from entering the country."
As the interior minister, Yishai has the authority to order deportation.
A police spokesman told Ynet that, "So far, foreign airlines have stopped about 200 activists from boarding flights. We are in constant contact with the airlines and we explained to them the reasons for the security measures taken against the fly-in. They understand that they will be responsible for flying activists who arrive and are refused entry, at their expense."
The police, he added, "Originally estimated that 500-800 activists would arrive in Israel. Yes, 200 have been banned, but several hundreds might still fly in during the day. We have both regular and plainclothes forces deployed and so far everything is normal. Nevertheless, we are prepared to deal with things as they happen, especially since this is an international airport. We will be deployed for as long as necessary."
Israel's preparations for the fly-in were criticized as "near-hysterical," but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the notion saying that, "There is no hysteria, just reserved determination to deal with any provocations or public disturbance. Every nation has the right to stop provocateurs from stepping onto its soil – and that is how we will act."
Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch and Police Commissioner Yohanan Danino held a situation assessment at the airport Friday, and they too rejected the criticism pointed at the security forces' deployment.
Both credited the operational strategy with preventing the arrival of hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists, who were stopped at by foreign airlines.
The massive police presence also contributed greatly to the deterrence factor, which impeded local protesters from disrupting the airport's operations. a police source said.
'Fly-in hypocritical'
Anti-fly-in protester
Meanwhile, about 50 passengers at the Lufthansa terminal at Paris's Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport were turned back Friday, after French authorities discovered their names were included on Israel's list of "undesirables".
"Roissy-Charles de Gaulle is under Israeli occupation. We are peaceful people who have no intention of creating disorder in Ben Gurion Airport," group organizer Olivia Zemor protested.
A Hungarian airline also stopped dozens of French activistsfrom boarding its plane in Paris. "The activists who were supposed to embark on the Malev flight were denied boarding because their names are on a black list compiled by Israel's Interior Ministry," Frederic Stella, who was part of the departing group, said.
In Brussels, three Frenchmen were denied boarding a Swiss airline flight heading to Israel. "The company has provided us with a document that says it has received instructions from Israeli authorities that we will not be allowed in," Farid Houssa, one of the three, said.
Authorities at the Geneva International Airport prevented 50 passengers from boarding a flight to Israel. The group caused a small ruckus and tried to barge through the airport's security gate, prompting airport authorities to temporarily block the points of embarkation.
Also present at Ben Gurion Airport on Friday were a few anti-"flytilla" protesters. Michelle Moshelian – holding a sign reading "15,000 dead in Arab spring, not one Western activist" – explained that she was protesting the fly-in's hypocrisy.
"The activists coming here are in the wrong place. They should go to Libya, to Syria. It's hypocritical that we don’t see these kind of demonstrations against other countries. I can't stand this hate, this demonization."
Moshelian added that she came to Israel when she was 25. "I didn’t have the chance to serve in the army, so I see this as my contribution to Israel."
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4092661,00.html
Report: Airlines stopping 'flytilla' passengers across Europe
BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Israeli police at Ben Gurion airport deported two American women Friday morning, as airlines across Europe barred a blacklist of over 300 passengers compiled by Israel from flying, Israeli media said.
Organizers of the "Welcome to Palestine" campaign, which some have described as the "flytilla," say the 600 or so activists -- more than half French -- are flying in on Friday to visit Palestinian families and have "totally peaceful intentions."
Israel's main airport was swarmed by police Thursday night, as well as an Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs delegation set to welcome "real tourists" with flowers.
Israeli police said a list of 342 names of those unauthorized to enter the state was handed to international airlines, Israeli news site Ynet reported.
A police spokesperson told Ynet that the airlines "understand that they will be responsible for flying activists who arrive and are refused entry, at their expense."
A copy of the letter from Israel's interior ministry to the airlines obtained by Israeli newspaper The Jerusalem Post said: "due to statements of pro-Palestinian radicals to arrive on commercial flights from abroad to disrupt the order and confront security forces at friction points, it was decided to refuse their entry in accordance with our authority according to the Law of Entry to Israel 1952."
Activists told the Israeli media that in Paris 50 passengers were barred from flying to Israel at the Lufthansa terminal Friday morning, and Hungarian airline Malev denied passage to dozens of French activists on Thursday.
Another group of French citizens were turned back at Geneva airport, activists said.
The two Americans who arrived in Ben Gurion Friday morning were returned to their departure point of Athens, due to their "intention to create provocations and disrupt the peace," Israeli police said.
Israeli immigration authorities said 180 blacklisted passengers have been turned away by airlines, according to Ynet.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=403373
Israel threatens to keep security pressure up for the "flytilla" (euronews mirror)
(1:15) Israel threatens to keep security pressure up for the "flytilla" (euronews mirror) 10 jul 2011, 12:13 , Respect -
Maria 9 juli 2011
Boycott Lufthansa, MALEV, and Swiss Airline
The Palestinian communities, institutions and events Union in the Diaspora – Europe had issued a statement in which they demanded their communities in EU, and the pro- Palestine activists, organizations and politicians to Boycott Lufthansa, MALEV, and Swiss Airline in response to their illegal step of denying the pro-Palestine activists from travelling to the zionist state of the Israeli occupation to protest peacefully the closure of Gaza and the continuous occupation of the Palestinian territories.
Dr. Radi Al-Shuaibi, secretariat general of Palestinian communities in Diaspora – Europe appealed to the Palestinian communities in the Diaspora and the exile and to everybody has moral and dignity to boycott traveling with all companies comply with the orders of the Zionist entity. He added that we appeal for boycotting the German Lufthansa, the Hungarian MALEV and the Swiss Airline in response to their coordination’s with Zionist intelligence and their illegal action on July 7-8 2011 in which they denied the European peace activists in solidarity with the Palestinian people and their rights and just cause to travel to Palestine to protest against the Israeli occupation.
http://fwd4.me/06If
Welcome to Israel
(7:29) Israel's Easiest Target - Part 1
(5:21) Israel's Easiest Target - Part 2
Five women -- Palestinian, American, Muslim, Christian, and Jewish -- tell stories of humiliation and harassment by Israeli border guards and airport security officials.
Despite Israeli arrests, threats and scare tactics, “Welcome to Palestine” tour begins
(2:36) Flytilla blocked: RT talks to only Gaza activist who 'slipped through net' [/gadget]
RT talks to only Gaza activist who 'slipped through net'
Less than 50 of the International Solidarity visitors managed to arrive in the West Bank as part of the Welcome to Palestine campaign, called for by at least 40 Palestinian civil society organizations meant to raise awareness about what life is like for Palestinians in the West Bank and inside Israel.
Israeli officials have used a variety of tactics over the last week to try to stop the “Welcome to Palestine” event, including a media blitz on Monday July 4th declaring that they expected the airport to be 'overrun with hooligans and lawbreakers' on Friday, then beefing up security at the airport and bringing in military personnel to stop any participants in the tour from entering.
The Israeli government also issued orders to international airline companies telling them to prevent ticketed passengers on an Israeli-issued 'blacklist' from boarding their flights, and many airlines complied with the order.
Israeli radio Reshet Bet reported Saturday that Israel intends to deport at least 120 people suspected of being Palestine solidarity activists. Police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld said that 120 people were prevented from entering the country, and will be deported within 24-48 hours
On Friday night, 35 activists landed in Tel Aviv on a Lufthansa flight, and were detained by Israeli forces upon arrival.
Israeli activists went to the airport and began chanting 'Free Palestine', and faced shouts and jeers from Israelis in the airport before being attacked and arrested by Israeli police.
According to the “Welcome to Palestine” campaign, “The initiative will take participants (Palestinians and Internationals) to different parts of Palestine from the north to the Negev and highlight the power of nonviolence and peace building efforts. Visitors will be accommodated locally and will enjoy Palestinian hospitality and a program of networking, fellowship, and volunteer peace work in Palestinian towns and villages together with hundreds of local activists.
“The week of activities starts on July 9 because that is the anniversary of the International Court of Justice ruling about the illegality of the Settlements and the apartheid wall in the occupied Palestinian Territories and the anniversary of the Palestinian Civil Society Call to Action: July 9 Ramallah area, July 10 Bethlehem area, July 11 North, July 12 Hebron and Jordan Valley, July 13 Neqab, July 14-15 Jerusalem.”
People who wish to visit Palestine may only do so through Israeli-controlled borders and airports, and over the last five years, the Israeli government has stepped up deportations and exclusions of international visitors suspected of having sympathy for Palestinian equal rights.
http://www.imemc.org/article/61645
Israel media: `Flytilla` passengers at West Bank protests
RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- Israeli news reports speculated Saturday that two demonstrations in the occupied West Bank were attended by activists onboard the so-called "flytilla" that arrived Friday.
More than 100 of the participants were detained at Ben Gurion International Airport upon arrival but according to Israeli news reports, others have managed to join protesters in two towns near Ramallah.
A report by Israel's Channel 10 said activists attended demonstrations in Nabi Saleh and Qalandia, where hundreds gathered to mark the anniversary of a key court ruling against Israel's separation wall.
In Qalandia, some foreign protesters declined to say how they arrived in the West Bank, a Ma'an correspondent said. One foreigner would say only that he arrived via Ben Gurion, but it was not clear when.
A group of elderly foreign nationals attended the demonstration in Nabi Saleh, the same correspondent said. He reported that the army refused to allow journalists to approach the demonstrators.
Israeli activist Kobi Snitz, who was in Nabi Saleh on Saturday, disputed the media reports in an interview with the Israeli website 972 Magazine. Snitz said he had not seen a single "air flotilla" passenger there.
In the same post, Tel Aviv-based journalist Joseph Dana commented that it was "strange for a story that is based in unsubstantiated reports to become the headline of every major newspaper website in Israel."
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=403666
Leftists: 'Flytilla' activists took part in Binyamin protest
Some 80 Palestinians staged a protest Saturday at the village of Nabi Salih in the Binyamin region. Some of the protestors hurled stones at Israeli soldiers, who responded with crowd dispersal means. The area was declared a closed military zone and three protestors were arrested.
According to left-wing groups, the protestors included activists who arrived in Israel as part of the pro-Palestinian fly-in and managed to infiltrate the West Bank
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4092955,00.html
Airlines: We cannot return pro-Palestinian activists denied entry to Israel
More than 100 pro-Palestinian tourists are waiting in a holding facility to be deported.
The foreign airlines operating in Israel say they will have a hard time flying large groups of people who were refused entry into the country back to their destinations of origin.
A senior official for one of the large European carriers told Haaretz on Saturday that "The airlines will have a hard time dealing all at once with large groups of pro-Palestinian activists that Israel wants to deport."
"We're talking about the peak of summer traveling season and the flights are full. We'll have to act accordingly and make different preparations, but first of all, we'll have to receive instructions from the head of the aviation authority in Israel for the deportation of the activists," he said.
"At present, we are unprepared to deal with this, in terms of human resources and in terms of amount of planes," the official added.
The authorities are expected to deport more than 100 pro-Palestinian activists that landed at Ben Gurion airport in the past few days. The last group of 35 activists landed on Friday just before midnight on a Lufthansa flight from Farnkfurt, and were transferred to a police detention facility.
The airline official estimated that the massive deportation will once begin on Sunday, continuing into the week, and will occur in small groups.
The official also said that in the event of violent resistance or physical commotions on the plane on the part of the deportees, the plane's captain is entitled to decide not to carry them on board. The official referenced the return of deportees that arrived in Israel on the Gaza flotilla in June 2010, during which the activists caused disruptions on the flights, delaying them.
http://fwd4.me/06B0
Ben Gurion Airport turned into a military checkpoint
(1:57) Ben Gurion Airport turned into a military checkpoint
Israel to expel 124 pro-Palestinian activists
JERUSALEM (AFP) -- Israel was preparing to expel 124 mostly European activists who had managed to arrive on flights to the country as part of a pro-Palestinian protest, an official said on Saturday.
"Access to Israeli territory was blocked to 124 pro-Palestinian militants coming from Europe, who are now being held in Israel jails," said Sabine Hadad, spokeswoman for the immigration service.
They will be expelled "as soon as there are places on appropriate flights," she said, adding that because Saturday is the Jewish Sabbath, "there are not a lot of flights and this could take a bit of time."
She said most of the activists were French, with the others being American, Belgian, Bulgarian, Dutch and Spanish.
While awaiting expulsion, they are being held at two jails, one near Tel Aviv and the other in the Negev desert.
"They are receiving the same correct treatment as all other prisoners," Hadad said.
The activists were participating in the "Welcome to Palestine" campaign, which some have called the "flytilla," in which up to 800 activists were to fly in on a peaceful mission to visit Palestinian families.
Israeli authorities said they largely managed to preempt the campaign by foreign activists demonstrating for the right of access to the occupied West Bank.
Officials said that by notifying foreign airlines of ticket-holders who would not be admitted to Israel they had prevented hundreds from boarding at their ports of departure.
The "flytilla" took place as a flotilla of ships was being prevented by Greece from sailing to the Gaza Strip in a bid to break the Israeli blockade on the Palestinian territory.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=403579
PA envoy to Brussels slams European complicity in blocking 'Flytilla'
BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) -- The Palestinian Authority's envoy to the European Union Leila Shahid slammed European airlines on Friday for preventing European citizens from traveling to Tel Aviv to join solidarity protests with the Palestinian people.
“Is Europe blockaded just like Palestine? On what basis are European solidarity activists blacklisted at airports in European countries to prevent them from flying to Al-Lud [Ben Gurion] airport?” Shahid said in a statement Friday.
European solidarity activists were responding to calls by Palestinian civil society organizations to commemorate the seventh anniversary of an International Court of Justice decision which ruled that Israel’s separation wall was illegal, the Palestinian envoy said.
“Authorities in several EU states and European airway companies complied with the Israeli government decision to blacklist a number of European citizens so they can’t travel to Israel.
“Nobody knows the basis for such blacklists, nor does anyone know what crime those people have committed other than trying to express solidarity.”
Shahid added that solidarity activists would have preferred to go straight to Gaza airport instead of going to Tel Aviv first “if Israel had not destroyed Gaza airport in 2002.”
A list of 342 blacklisted passengers was distributed to foreign airlines by the Israeli Ministry of Transportation in order to prevent them boarding flights to Tel Aviv.
Sixty nine passengers were refused entry to Israel and are awaiting deportation.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=403543
Nunu: Western countries ban on travel of activists bias in favor of Israel
GAZA, (PIC)-- The Palestinian government in Gaza has lashed out at the western governments for barring travel of foreign solidarity activists to occupied Palestine via air route.
Taher Al-Nunu, the government’s spokesman, said in a press release on Friday night that the step revealed the real image of those western countries and unmasked their blind bias in favor of Israel.
He said that those countries’ act further exposed the fake democracy, freedom, and equality they were championing, and that they pursued double standards when it came to the Middle East question.
Nunu said that the western practice was hypocritical, charging that they “sell illusions to the Palestinian people while supporting the illegal and unethical blockade on the Gaza Strip”.
The spokesman called on the western countries to allow those activists to travel to Palestine to expose the ugly and racist image of the Israeli occupation and uncover its inhuman practices against the Palestinians.
Nunu hailed the international campaign of solidarity with the Palestinian people and the activists’ attempts to reach Gaza via land, sea, and air routes, which, he said, reflected the western societies’ rejection of the siege on Gaza.
The growing solidarity campaign reflected the mounting isolation of Israel and the rising awareness of its true image, Nunu said.
Israel had supplied western air companies with the names of 350 foreign activists, which it said should not be allowed to board planes heading to Ben Gurion airport.
Meanwhile, 50 activists staged a sit-in at Charles De Gaulle airport in Paris after they were denied boarding a German airline plane en route to Ben Gurion airport.
http://fwd4.me/06AJ
Haniyeh praises Gaza flytilla campaign
Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh
Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh has praised the activists who started the Gaza 'flytilla' campaign to support Palestinians living under Israeli occupation.
"More than 66 flights originated from different European cities to go to Al-Lod (Ben Gurion) airport to support the steadfastness of the Palestinian people, and to say no to the Zionist occupation," he told a crowd gathered at a mosque in Gaza City on Friday, AP reported.
Israeli police detained 69 activists upon their arrival at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport on Friday. A total of 25 other activists were also denied entry into Israel.
Four of the 69 activists have been deported to their home countries and the rest have been sent to detention facilities, the Israeli daily Haaretz reported.
The activists were part of the pro-Palestinian Welcome to Palestine campaign, which has been organizing the flytilla to Israel.
The effort is meant to be a complement to the Gaza Freedom Flotilla II, a convoy of ships organized by activists to deliver humanitarian supplies to the 1.5 million residents of the Gaza Strip.
The 10-ship humanitarian flotilla was scheduled to leave Greek ports for the coastal enclave in early July, with the goal of breaking Israel's blockade of the impoverished territory.
However, the flotilla was prohibited from leaving the ports after the Greek government made a sudden decision to impose a blanket ban on the departure of any vessels destined for Gaza.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/188215.html
25 pro-Palestinian activists from Germany stopped upon arrival in Israel
Passengers from Lufthansa flight expected to be denied entry to Israel, after 65 other 'fly-in' activists were transferred to detention facilities and 4 were deported; police estimate that bulk of events related to 'fly-in' have ended.
A group of 25 people suspected to be pro-Palestinian activists arrived at Ben-Gurion International Airport on Friday night, and were expected to be denied entry to Israel.
The suspected activists arrived on a Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt late Friday night, after their flight’s departure was delayed due to runway improvement work being conducted at Ben-Gurion International Airport on Friday evening from 19:00 to 22:00.
The activist aboard the plane were not on the list of 342 blacklisted passengers submitted by the Transportation Ministry to foreign airlines on Thursday, and as such were able to board the plane.
Earlier in the day, police called Friday’s operations at Ben-Gurion Airport "successful" as most of the activists were identified and taken for questioning during the afternoon hours.
Not including those passengers who arrived on the Lufthansa flight, a total of 310 arriving passengers were questioned by the Immigration and Population Authority. Sixty-nine of those passengers were found to be "fly-in" activists and were denied entry to Israel. The others were found to be regular tourists and were permitted entry.
At this time, four of the 69 activists have been deported to their home countries. The rest have been sent to detention facilities until they can be deported.
Ten of the activists arrived on an easyJet flight, while another 20 came on an Alitalia flight. The rest arrived on other flights.
Israel has thus far been successful in preventing the entry of 200 passengers wishing to come to Israel as part of the Welcome to Palestine campaign, which had organized a "fly-in" to the Middle East this weekend for solidarity visits in the Palestinian territories.
Israel Police estimate that the bulk of events related to the pro-Palestinian 'fly-in' have ended.
http://fwd4.me/068q 11 jul 2011, 09:57 , Respect -
Maria 10 juli 2011
Israel blocks lawyers access to detained Gaza Flytilla activists
(5:55) Israel blocks lawyers access to detained Gaza Flytilla activists
Forty pro-Palestinian activists, detained in Israel for trying to reach Gaza, are being denied access to see lawyers. They're currently detained in Tel Aviv for taking part in airplane aid mission, after their boats were blocked in Greece. RT talks to pro-Palestinian activist Ronnie Barkan, who's in Tel Aviv.
Tel Aviv arrest of pro-Palestinian activists spark protest
(2:29) Tel Aviv arrest of pro-Palestinian activists spark protest - Press TV News
Demonstrations have continued in the French capital since Friday after hundreds of pro-palestinians were denied boarding flights to Tel Aviv.
A few made it to Ben Gurion Airport, but were taken into police custody as they landed.
To protest against the arrests, these pro-palestenians organised this protest by word of mouth.
The demonstrators behind me, clad in black, had planned to demonstrate near the Israeli Embassy in Paris, but they were deterred by an overwhelming police presence, sot hey have decided to demonstrate near one of Paris’ most spectacular symbols, the Eiffel Tower.
Israeli authorities says the pro-Palestinian Europeans and Americans intended to disturb public order.
Some were sent back from their transit airports like Budapest and Frankfurt, but not without protesting.
Over the weekend, more than a hundred pro-Palestinians were taken into police custody by French Police after they demonstrated near the Paris town hall.
At Roissy Airport, protests continued several hours after their flights had taken off and so did police action.
The organisers of the Welcome to Palestine journey say they are considering legal action.
Israel has blocked all flotillas to Gaza, but this is a rare case where it has blocked pro-palestinian foreigners from travelling to West Bank.
This is the first fly-in or air flotilla and it had people from all walks of life, and all ages, from 9 to 85 years.
http://fwd4.me/06KN
Flytilla activists begin hunger strike in Israeli jail
Welcome to Palestine
Israeli authorities set stringent conditions for release of “Welcome to Palestine” prisoners
The large majority of international visitors are still incarcerated under brutal conditions, begin a hunger strike in Israeli jail
Bethlehem, July 10, 2011. Over 120 internationals attempting to visit Palestine are still being illegally detained — kidnapped — in two Israeli detention centers, in Ramle and in Beer Al-Saba’ (Beersheva). These friends of Palestine, among which there are minors and elderly persons with medical conditions, have been and are being mistreated and subjected to unnecessary brutality.
For example, Dr. Hikmat Al-Sabty, 57, of Rostock, Germany, is being denied needed medication that is in his suitcase; this was reported to his wife by the German Embassy in Tel Aviv, but his wife has not been allowed to speak with him directly. All of those detained have stated repeatedly that they are non-violent and want only to accept the invitation to visit together with Palestinian friends in the program “Welcome to Palestine.”
The Israeli authorities released two older German men from Bersheeva prison yesterday, but only on condition that they sign an Israeli legal document that was presented to them only in Hebrew and English. One of the two men came to Bethlehem. He is uncertain of the full contents of the Israeli paper he signed because his English is not good, and he was unable to first consult with his attorney in Israel before signing the paper: the Israeli authorities yesterday made attorney access to prisoners very difficult, and large number of those detained can only be seen by their attorneys today and tomorrow.
The German man now in Bethlehem believes that he has agreed in writing not to go to Ramallah, Jenin, and certain other Palestinian cities, but that the Israeli authorities have allowed that he to go to “tourist” areas in the West Bank. Because he is still uncertain of the full content of the Israeli document he signed, he prefers not to give his name at this time. The Israeli authorities refused, in violation of international law, to give him a copy of the paper he signed. His attorney is seeking to obtain a copy of the document he signed from the Israeli authorities.
We received a letter from the Belgian men in Bersheeva prison, who state that they began a hunger strike last night. In the letter, the Belgians demand, on behalf of all the prisoners, to have contact their families and with their attorneys. They demand an international investigation into the behavior of airline companies and Israeli officials. They also demand to be able to have contact with each other in the Israeli prison. For example, because the French and Belgian men and women are separated in the Bersheeva prison, the men do not know whether the women are also aware of the hunger strike. It is believed that the French men have joined the hunger strike. According to the Germans who were released from Bersheeva, the German men and women there are also participating in the hunger strike, but the men and women are not allowed to speak with each other.
Those few international guests who were able to reach Bethlehem on Friday were invited by their Palestinian hosts to go to either to a demonstration in Qalandia at noon or else to attend a gathering in Bilin at 11 am, from which they then joined Palestinian friends in Nabi Saleh. There Israeli soldiers prevented the bus-loads of passengers and local Palestinians and Israeli supporters from holding a peaceful demonstration. The Israeli forces shot stun grenades and at least two kinds of tear gas canisters at them. The nearby agricultural fields were set ablaze by these tear-gas canisters. The Israeli forces illegally detained — kidnapped — four peace activists, including three Israeli citizens and one Brazilian. Several participants were injured.
Events planned continued. Today, there was a gathering in Beit Sahour in front of the Greek Orthodox Church, an event at Aida Refugee Camp and an event in Al-Walaja.
http://palsolidarity.org/2011/07/19349/
Gaza's blockade: Is this the turning point?-Remember Palestine
(24:21) Gaza's blockade: Is this the turning point?-Remember Palestine-07-09-2011
In this edition of the show, the main focus is on the efforts of the second Freedom Flotilla that has been barred from setting sail to Gaza by Greece.
The Israeli peace activist, Adam Keller, on the phone from Tel Aviv, talks about the Israeli police's crackdown on five pro-Palestinian peace activists who managed to arrive at Ben Gurion Airport. Next up is Yousef al-Helou's report on the people of Gaza's reaction to Greece's decision not to permit the flotilla to set sail for Gaza. Press TV correspondent, Hassan Ghani is the studio guest. He talks about the absurd measures the Greek authorities imposed on the ships to prevent them from sailing to Gaza. The activist, Chris Den Hund reports on the sit-in in Paris in protest to the French authorities preventing pro-Palestinian peace activists from flying to Gaza.
30 fly-in activists to be deported
Thirty activists who arrived during the pro-Palestinian fly-in over the weekend are being transported to Ben Gurion International Airport to be deported from the country.
The activists' names are all on a blacklist of people to whom Israel has refused entry.
http://fwd4.me/06Eb
Israel to expel 'flytilla' activists
Israeli police officers remove a pro-Palestinian Israeli activist during a small demonstration at Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv on July 8, 2011.
Israeli officials say they hope to expel within 72 hours 118 pro-Palestinian activists that were arrested and denied entry upon their arrival at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport on a peaceful mission.
Israeli officials detained at least 120 activists that were part of the pro-Palestinian "Welcome to Palestine" campaign and organized the “flytilla” to Israel after Greece, in collusion with Israel, blocked Freedom Flotilla II aid convoy from delivering relief supplies to the impoverished Gaza Strip.
Israel's Interior Ministry official Sabine Hadded said the timetable of the activists' deportation depends on the airliners' ability to fly them home, the Associated Press reported on Sunday.
The Israeli official said most of the activists were French, with the others being American, Belgian, Bulgarian, Dutch and Spanish.
Meanwhile, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon has thanked the European states for helping limit the number of activists arriving at Ben Gurion Airport.
The detained activists are being held at two Israeli jails -- one in Ramleh near Tel Aviv and the other at Beersheva in southern Israel's Negev desert.
The visit by the pro-Palestinian activists was aimed at expressing solidarity with Palestinian residents living under Israeli occupation and protesting Israel's border policies as well as its total blockade of Gaza, depriving its population of basic living requirements.
Israeli officials preempted the foreign activists' campaign by releasing a blacklist to international airlines demanding that they block 342 passengers from boarding flights to Israel.
A Gaza-bound naval flotilla has been banned from leaving Greek waters, where some 10 ships are stuck after Athens imposed a blanket ban on the departure of any vessels destined for Gaza.
The activists have condemned the ban, saying Israel has no right to refuse them entry to the occupied Palestinian territories.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/188419.html 11 jul 2011, 11:30 , Respect -
Maria 11 juli 2011
Israel deports 23 activists, 58 still held
JERUSALEM (AFP) -- Israel on Monday deported 23 foreign pro-Palestinian activists who were taken into custody after flying into Israel for protests at the weekend, an official told AFP.
"There are 58 remaining (in Israeli custody)," immigration service spokeswoman Sabine Hadad told AFP, adding they would be flown out as soon as there was space available on departing aircraft.
She said one Belgian had been admitted to Israel early on Monday, after he signed an undertaking to keep the peace and stay away from protests.
Those expelled during the day were 15 Belgians, six French nationals and two Germans, Hadad said.
Those still in custody were part of the "Welcome to Palestine" campaign in which up to 800 people from Europe and the United States planned to fly to Israel and head to the Palestinian territories to visit Palestinian families.
Israeli authorities mobilized diplomatic and security forces to try to head off the incoming activists.
Officials said that by notifying foreign airlines of ticket-holders who would not be admitted to Israel, they had prevented hundreds of people from boarding at their ports of departure.
Of those who managed to arrive, 120 were denied entry to Israel and taken into custody, although a handful were later admitted after signing pledges not to take part in public disorder.
The "Welcome to Palestine" campaign took place as a flotilla of ships trying to break a blockade on the Gaza Strip was prevented from leaving Greece.
The timing of the fly-in campaign led some to dub it a "flytilla," although organizers denied their mission was linked to the attempt to run the blockade.
http://fwd4.me/06LW
Peace Activists Enjoy zionist Hospitality Together With Rats
Cowardice, deafness, dumbness and blindness hit the EU governments and made them silent about the brutal arrest by zionist forces of Europeans peace activists, who were placed in cells in several prisons on charges of supporting justice and peace for the Palestinians.
No condemnation statement or official comment has been issued by any EU government until this moment about the barbaric zionist operation that led to the arrest of more than one hundred Europeans at Ben Gurion airport, which has been turned into a concentration camp for the European peace activists during the last few days.
According to our sources from “Bienvenue Palestine – Welcome to Palestine“, the organizer’s activity in France, more than a hundred peace activists in the international “Bienvenue Palestine – Welcome to Palestine” were held Saturday in israeli jails.
These are the comrades who had traveled Friday on planes from several European cities, among them Paris, Geneva, Rome, Frankfurt, London, Zurich, Budapest.
The volunteers stated where they were jailed at Ben Gurion airport: “Upon our arrival at the airport in Tel Aviv, the israeli officials of the Border Police asked us “Where are you going in Israel?” We replied, “We received a honorable invitation from our friends in Palestine, and we are going to meet them in Bethlehem”.
This righteous and short answer earned the activists automatic refusal to go further, being interned at holding cells at the airport, and then having them transferred to other places of detention. This is exactly what Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza are subject to for political reasons. This confirms what was already obvious, that it is indeed political, in our case that being sympathetic to the cause of the Palestinian people is enough reason for being refused entry and interned into detention cells.
The French sources added: “As long as their cell phones were not confiscated from the French, British or Belgian prisoners, they told us something about the beginning of welcome they were given in their detention in the so-called “only democratic state in the Middle East”. Our detainees said: “about 20 soldiers escorted the internationals, standing, screaming… There was at least one case of beating, many more cases of jostling, etc …”
Regarding the French detainees, the coordinators of the French part of the mission were not able to access their consular authorities. The same picture emerged for the Belgians and British. For example, Israel supplied to France on Saturday morning a list of names of 44 citizens who they admitted were held in jails. This list was then sent to “Bienvenue Palestine – Welcome to Palestine”.
According to the organizers, “It confirms, but only in part, the identification of people who arrived in Tel Aviv over the last twenty-four hours. About some other people we have every reason to think that they have arrived in Tel Aviv, but they were not yet on this list of 44 French citizens sent by Israel”.
Saturday late morning, the Consul General of France in Tel Aviv had not been able to visit French detainees. These French activists were divided and sent to at least two centers of detention in Ramle (near Tel Aviv) and “Bersheva” (Naqab / Negev) in the southern part of the West Bank, a concentration camp where Palestinian political prisoners are usually sent. Lawyers were also unable to reach the detainees at the zionist detention centers.
With regard to other internationals, we have no confirmed figures. We only know that Nadia and other Belgians were arrested, along with Mick and other British.
Israeli media on Saturday reported a total of 69 arrested on Saturday, of 4 who were immediately and effectively were expelled, plus 25 others who were arrested when arriving by plane the previous night on a Lufthansa flight from Munich.
The solidarity activists from France, Belgium and elsewhere with the Palestinian people are mobilizing to demand the immediate release of our comrades as they mobilize to bring airline collaborators of the israeli terror state, their respective governments, which of course include France’s Sarkozy, Juppe, Guéant and company, to meet their minimum responsibilities. They expect that political parties, associations, elected officials, etc. who officially support solidarity with the Palestinian People will move their ass a little more than they have done so far in terms of the missions of the BienvenuePalestine flotilla, the CAPJPO – EuroPalestine – BienvenuePalestine – Welcome to Palestine.
Meanwhile, Mike Nyblr, a Scottish peace activist who arrived in Palestine last week and has lived since then in Bethlehem, said: “Whoever had doubts that the Israeli policy is based on lies and distortion, is now sure. The Israelis have coordinated a campaign of lies against us. It was very difficult for us to understand.
They said that we belong to Palestinian and European extremist organizations, but the fact is that we are not organized in political parties or movements, and most of us belong to movements and associations defending human rights around the world.
They also said that we are anti-semitic and centered on Israel while ignoring what is happening in Syria, Iraq, Libya, etc., but the fact is that there are many Jews among us, and it is ridiculous to accuse jews of being anti-Semitic. Furthermore, we are active against the bloody crackdown practiced by several regimes, especially in Syria, Libya and Yemen.
They also said that we plan to demonstrate and establish chaos at Ben-Gurion, and this also is not true. We wanted to use this airport as a means of transportation, a better and faster way to access the West Bank occupied cities. Now we have brought more notice to the facts of the israeli policies, lies, propaganda and crimes”.
http://fwd4.me/06Ic 13 jul 2011, 12:47 , Respect -
Maria 12 juli 2011
Israel deports more 'flytilla' activists
JERUSALEM (AFP) -- Israel on Tuesday expelled 22 foreign pro-Palestinian activists detained after flying into Israel for protests at the weekend, and more were due to leave in the evening, an official said.
Immigration service spokeswoman Sabine Hadad said that those who left during the day were put on flights to Italy, France and Austria.
"Another 11 are on their way to an Alitalia flight," she said. "There could be more during the night. At the moment we have 23 (still in custody)."
The detainees were part of the "Welcome to Palestine" campaign in which up to 800 people from Europe and the United States planned to fly to Israel and head to the Palestinian territories to visit Palestinian families.
Israeli authorities marshalled diplomatic and security resources to try to head off the incoming activists.
Officials said that by notifying foreign airlines of ticket-holders who would not be admitted to Israel, they had prevented hundreds of people from boarding at their ports of departure.
Of those who managed to arrive, 120 were denied entry to Israel and taken into custody, although a handful were later admitted after signing pledges not to take part in public disorder.
They were held in two detention facilities, one near Tel Aviv, another in the southern Negev, while authorities found flights on which to expel them.
The "Welcome to Palestine" campaign took place as a flotilla of ships trying to break a blockade on the Gaza Strip was prevented from leaving Greece.
The timing of the fly-in campaign led some to dub it a "flytilla," although organizers denied their mission was linked to the attempt to run the blockade.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=404667
13 juli 2011
Israel deports seven 'flytilla' activists
JERUSALEM (AFP) -- Israel on Tuesday expelled seven foreign pro-Palestinian activists detained after flying into Israel for protests at the weekend, leaving five still in custody, an official said.
"There are three British people, an Irishman and a German," immigration service spokeswoman Sabine Hadad told AFP.
She was unable to say when they would be deported.
The detainees were part of the "Welcome to Palestine" campaign in which up to 800 people from Europe and the United States planned to fly to Israel and head to the Palestinian territories to visit Palestinian families.
Israel said it prevented hundreds of people from boarding at their ports of departure by notifying airlines of ticket-holders who would not be admitted to the country.
Of those who managed to arrive, 120 were denied entry and taken into custody, although a handful were later admitted after signing pledges not to take part in public disorder.
The "Welcome to Palestine" campaign, dubbed "flytilla", took place as a flotilla of ships trying to break a blockade on the Gaza Strip was prevented from leaving Greece.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=405049
Flytilla activist - peaceful or not? Supports peace or Hamas? (israeli hasbara video)
(3:28) Flytilla activist - peaceful or not? Supports peace or Hamas?
Activists return to UK after being imprisoned by Israel
(10:17) Activists return to UK after being imprisoned by Israel
The first two Britons to be imprisoned by Israel for expressing the desire to visit Bethlehem as part of the 'Flytilla' to Palestine have returned to the UK. Mick Napier and John Lynes feature in this video.
‘Welcome to Palestine’: Israeli court challenges deportation orders
Bethlehem and Jerusalem, July 13, 2011. Court dates have been set for noon today and tomorrow at 9 am for the court challenges of “Welcome to Palestine” participants against the deportation orders of the Israeli government that they and their attorneys consider illegal. The hearings will take place at the Central District Courthouse in Petah Tikva.
The hearing at noon today concerns two Australians who flew from Athens to Ben Gurion airport yesterday to join the “Welcome to Palestine” initiative: Sylvia Hale, a retired member of the NSW Parliament and Green Party Member, and Vivienne Porzsolt, a member of Jews against the Occupation, both 69 years old had, been aboard the Flotilla II Free Gaza ship, the “MV Tahrir,” which the Greek government prevented from sailing to Gaza. Other members of Flotilla II have decided to come visit Palestine and contacted the “Welcome to Palestine” campaign, including the US activist Kathy Kelly. “We are now inundated with requests to visit Palestine which is the opposite of what the Israeli authorities had tried to do by their brutal denial of travel to a few hundred activists” said Mazin Qumsiyeh, one of the organizers and the campaign’s local media spokesperson.
Tomorrow at 9 am Angelica Seyfrid of Berlin, Germany, will challenge deportation orders. Ms. Seyfrid, an artist and translator, worked for many weeks to raise money for travel costs so that unemployed persons and students in Germany could join “Welcome to Palestine.” On July 8th, Ms. Seyfrid flew from Berlin to Tel Aviv with members of the German ,Austrian, French and Belgian delegations of “Welcome to Palestine.” All were immediately detained upon arrival to Ben Gurion airport and most were deported without opportunity of legal counsel. Members of the German and Austrian delegation were deported on Sunday, July 10th via Lufthansa Airlines, and on Monday, July 11th, via Australian Airlines respectively. According to the German Embassy in Tel Aviv, the Israeli authorities denied access to attorneys seeking to represent the incarcerated Germans.
“Israel denied the entry of Noam Chomsky because he wanted to have a talk with students from Nablus,” said Attorney Omer Shatz. “Israel denied the entry of Ivan Prado the famous clown just because he wished to make Ramahalla’s kids happy. Israel denied entry to anyone who wants to visit Palestine. Such a regime that doesn’t let people to visit millions of Palestinians living under oppressing military occupation for 44 years now.”
“Israel denied the entry of Noam Chomsky because he wanted to have a talk with students from Nablus,” said Attorney Omer Shatz. “Israel denied the entry of Ivan Prado the famous clown just because he wished to make Ramahalla’s kids happy. Israel denied entry to anyone who wants to visit Palestine. Such a regime that doesn’t let people to visit millions of Palestinians living under oppressing military occupation for 44 years now.”
“Our hearts go out to Angelica, and we fully support her courageous refusal to accept the illegal Israeli deportation orders,” said Elsa Rassbach, a US citizen living in Berlin and member of CODEPINK and the German section of the War Resistors International, who helped organize the German delegation and is coordinating the international media for the initiative from Berlin. Together with members of the French and UK delegations to “Welcome to Palestine,” Ms. Rassbach visited Palestine during an earlier campaign of support during Christmas last year. However, the French activist, Olivia Zémor, was denied entry and deported during the same time.
While Israel succeeded in preventing hundreds of people from entering Palestine, many others did enter to join this week’s program of activities. Israeli forces have incarcerated at least two supporters, including a young man from Belgium who participated in yesterday’s peaceful attempt to enter the Palestinian villages of Beit Ommar (now off-limits due to Israeli colonial activities). Israelis also decided to join the activities and several were also arrested.
“The local organizers of the ‘Welcome to Palestine’ campaign, while sad about the continuing attempts at isolation from the international community, are pleased that this episode of brutal Israeli assault removes one of the last illusions about ‘Israeli Democracy’,” said Dr. Qumsiyeh.
Please stay informed through our websites:
- http://palestinianspring.palestinejn.org
- http://welcometopalestinenews.blogspot.com/
- http://ahlanfefalasteen.blogspot.com/
- http://bienvenueenpalestinepresse.blogspot.com/
- http://www.kopi-online.de
http://palsolidarity.org/2011/07/19450/
Paris sees protests after France helped thwart fly-in
PARIS, (PIC)-- The French capital Paris saw Tuesday pro-Palestinians demonstrating outside of the foreign ministry headquarters protesting the government's subservience to Israel after France helped stop hundreds from boarding flights heading for Israel to support the Palestinians.
“We are here to denounce the French government's cooperation with the Israeli terrorist government,” one activist said, “because we are 342 people who were classified on the terrorist list”.
“People between the ages of 9 and 85 were not allowed to travel not only because of orders from the Israeli government, but with agreement from the French government. This is very, very serious,” the activist said.
Israel exerted every effort to ban hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists from landing in the occupied Palestinian territories last week by sending a black list to airlines. The list included the names of people it did not want to enter the land.
342 French citizens were banned from joining the “fly-in” by several European airlines. 49 others from the country were arrested after they managed to land in Israel.
http://fwd4.me/06VE
'Flytilla' activist says mistreated by Israel
An Austrian pro-Palestinian activist deported from Israel has complained of ill treatment at the hands of aggressive Israeli forces.
Julia Hurnaus, 25, was one of about 40 so-called "flytilla" activists expelled on Tuesday from Israel, where they had flown for a protest action over the weekend.
"People were injured, people were hit in the face for no reason," Hurnaus told the Austria Press Agency upon her return to Vienna late Tuesday.
"It was all so aggressive, we were treated badly," she added.
The activists were constantly shouted at and any communication with the outside world was blocked during their detention.
Arrested as they flew into Israel as part of the "Welcome to Palestine" campaign to visit the Palestinian territories and Palestinian families, the activists were taken to a detention centre in an airless bus by high temperatures and with no water during the three-hour drive, Hurnaus said.
Some with health problems were refused treatment, she also claimed, insisting the protest was a peaceful one and was never meant as a provocation to the Israeli authorities.
"The point was to travel to Palestine because we have the right to" and to visit people there, she said.
Hundreds of people from Europe and the United States were prevented from flying to Israel or denied entry and taken into custody over the weekend as they sought to join the "Welcome to Palestine" campaign.
The timing of the action, just as a flotilla of ships trying to break a blockade on the Gaza Strip was prevented from leaving Greece, led some to dub it a "flytilla," although organisers denied their mission was linked to the attempt
http://fwd4.me/06V2 15 jul 2011, 22:51 , Respect -
Maria 14 juli 2011
Flytilla Swansea women return
(1:56) Flytilla Swansea women return
First deported UK man from Israel
(3:22) First deported UK man from Israel
Activists return to UK after being imprisoned by Israel
(10:17) Activists return to UK after being imprisoned by Israel
17 juli 2011
Airflotilla belgian activist who managed to enter in Palestine has been arrested, no news from him!!!
(2:15) Passage à tabac du citoyen Belge AbdelHafid par les soldats Israéliens
Abdelhafid member of the mission Welcome to Palestine was beaten by Israeli soldiers for no good reason at a peaceful march. He was arrested.
Mobilize for his immediate release!
Barghouthi: Pro-Palestinian activists have fulfilled purpose
RAMALLAH, (PIC)-- Palestinian MP Mustafa al-Barghouthi, head of the Palestinian National Initiative, said the international pro-Palestinian campaign achieved more than it set out to, despite measures Israel took to prevent them from landing in the occupied territories.
Barghouthi said in a statement to Quds Press that the measures still did not prevent hundreds of protesters from actually landing in the occupied Palestinian territories and demonstrating at checkpoints in Qalandia, Walaja, Bethlehem, Nabi Saleh and other areas in the West Bank.
Israel recently made far-reaching efforts to thwart the Freedom Flotilla II from breaching Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip and delivering much needed aid. Israel also hiked security preventing hundreds of pro-Palestinians from flying in to protest in the occupied territories.
Israel incurred heavy losses preventing the activists' arrival and turning the Ben-Gurion Airport into a military barracks, Barghouthi told Quds Press. It put itself into problems with all European states, as no one can accept anymore Israel's exports and its suppression of freedom of expression.
Barghouthi, who was on board the Freedom Flotilla II, said the Greeks bitterly felt that they had been politically and economically extorted, as the country succumbed to Israeli pressure and banned the flotilla's ships from departing from its ports.
In the interview, Barghouthi also addressed American and European efforts to resume Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.
He asserted that the US pressure on the Palestinians has been ongoing and actually increased recently. He cited the Congress's decision to boycott the Palestinian Authority should it follow through with steps towards national unity or unilaterally seeking statehood from the United Nations.
Barghouthi went on to say that it was actually Israel that closed the door to negotiations, with the conduct of Netanyahu's government. He questioned, how can the Palestinians sit at the negotiations table when the number of illegal settlers has risen a hundred percent since the signing of the Oslo Accords.
http://fwd4.me/06qJ 20 jul 2011, 10:05 , Respect -
Maria 20 juli 2011
Update: 'Welcome to Palestine' deportee ready to try again
By Mya Guarnieri
SARASOTA, Florida (Ma'an) -- Laura Durkay spent 100 hours in an Israeli prison simply for declaring her intention to visit Bethlehem and its neighboring Aida refugee camp in the occupied West Bank.
But the 29-year-old activist and filmmaker says, if she had the money, she’d gladly do it again. And she’s quick to add that her ordeal is “nowhere close to what happens to Palestinians” who resist the Israeli occupation.
Durkay participated in the July 8 fly-in, a protest organized to call attention to freedom of movement restrictions that affect both West Bank Palestinians and those who dare to sympathize with them. As Durkay did, participants were to openly declare their intention to visit Palestine at Israeli passport control -- a small, peaceful action that could lead to deportation.
According to organizers, 600 activists planned to participate in the “Welcome to Palestine” campaign, which was also dubbed the “flytilla” in reference to the flotilla that was intended to challenge the Israeli blockade of Gaza.
Some participants were prevented from boarding their flights in Europe after Israeli authorities sent airlines a no-fly list, containing the names of more than 300 activists.
Durkay, who lives in New York City and has visited Gaza, had no problem until she reached Ben Gurion.
At passport control, she stated her intention to visit Bethlehem. When the clerk pushed her for details, Durkay said, “I have an invitation to stay at Aida refugee camp.”
“That was all they needed to hear,” Durkay recalled during a recent phone interview.
“Immediately after that, a female immigration officer came over.”
Durkay and dozens of other activists were held in a room in the airport, where they sat for several hours. Eventually, police and border patrol entered.
There were “25 to 40 of us,” Durkay says. “The sheer number of them was overwhelming.”
When the officers tried to separate one of the activists -- a French national of Arab descent -- from the group, some of the participants held on to him, a non-violent act of solidarity and resistance.
“That was all the excuse [Israeli officers] needed to start hitting people and punching people,” Durkay says.
After the activists were removed from the room, they were searched and put onto a bus. It “looked like a normal tour bus from the outside. On the inside it was a paddy wagon,” Durkay recalls. “It was metal, it was hot, there was no air-conditioning, no water, no toilets. And there were roaches.”
The group was confined to the roach-infested bus for several hours and then transferred to Givon prison in Ramla.
After being processed, the protesters were fed.
“They didn’t give us enough [food] for everyone to have their own meal,” Durkay says.
“So we were sharing and [the Israelis] were filming us while we were eating to show how ‘good’ they were treating us.”
Durkay shared a cell with five other women, all “Welcome to Palestine” participants. Activists were kept separate from Givon’s other prisoners, undocumented migrant workers and African refugees.
One of Durkay’s cell mates had severe diarrhea which, in some cases, can lead to dehydration and death, and was denied appropriate medical care for the first three days of their imprisonment. The woman saw a doctor and received anti-diarrheal medication on the fourth day, not long before the group was deported.
“I think [the Israelis] are really scared of non-violent protests and international solidarity. They don’t know how to respond to it,” Durkay reflects, adding that immigration officials repeatedly told activists, “‘You’re just here to hurt our image. You just want to make us look bad.’”
Durkay points out that what makes Israel looks bad is denying entry to activists who simply wish to visit Palestinians in the West Bank. She adds that it was “stupid” of the Israelis to send no-fly lists to European airlines because it shows that “the Israeli siege of the West Bank extends all the way to France.”
“Instead of actually looking at the policies that people are criticizing, [the Israelis] say, ‘Oh, stop embarrassing us.’”
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=406695 29 jul 2011, 17:45 , Respect -
Maria 29 juli 2011
Look at my butt! Airport guards embarrass Israel
Airport guards confiscate Russian photographer's camera, return it after taking asinine photos of themselves; tourist's friend: Another goodwill ambassador of Israel brought to tears. Officials to issue apology.
Russian photographer Julia Burulyova says she received an irritating "souvenir" from her recent visit to Israel: Airport guards who confiscated her camera for an inspection used it to take asinine photos of themselves.
Airport authorities confirmed the details of the story and said they will apologize to Burulyova and look into the case.
The Russian tourist recently visited Israel with a friend for a week's vacation. On Tuesday the two arrived at Ben Gurion Airport for their flight back home. Security guards showed special interest in Burulyova high-quality camera and asked her to leave it behind for a thorough security check.
The photographer explained that she needs the expensive equipment for her work, but security officers reportedly told her that if she wanted to make the flight herself she better leave the camera behind.
"And there, another satisfied tourist, another goodwill ambassador, was in tears at our airport," said Burulyova's friend, Victor Vertsner, who publicized the story on Facebook.
"We were planning an international photography forum in Israel with some 50 of Russia's leading photographers, yet now that the story was published nobody will be coming, of course," he said.
War on terror?
Welcome to Israel?
Upon picking up the camera at the Moscow airport, Burulyova was stunned to discover that security guards took some 10 photos of themselves, including one featuring a security officer posing with his rear-end facing the camera.
"Ben Gurion's security officials had fun and took a few pictures – this is the level of seriousness of their war on terror," she wrote in her Facebook account.
The Airport Authority confirmed that Burulyova was asked to leave her camera behind and that a complaint has been filed by the photographer's friend.
"The Airport Authority will apologize to Ms. Julia Burulyova. The issue is being looked into and the Airport Authority will take all necessary steps towards the parties involved," the Authority said in a statement.
Ynet also inquired whether the guards' conduct was negligent in exposing classified information – including security officers' photos and images from an airport security room that is off limits to the public. However, the Airport Authority declined to comment on the issue.
http://fwd4.me/07qE
3 aug 2011
Hidden video shows treatment of ‘flytilla’ detainees in Israeli prison
(10:35) Hidden video camera inside Israeli prison
13 British people were stopped at Tel Aviv airport in July 2011. Five hours later they and 120 other people were in a high security prison in Israel.One woman managed to smuggle out this hidden recorded video of their six nights locked up in the high security prison in Israel.The video clips shows how the women were forced to scrub the prison floors in exchange for coffee. Life inside the hot cells and tense interactions with the Israeli guards were all captured.
Interested broadcasters please contact http://www.undercurrents.org
For more information on the issue see http://www.swanseapalestine.org/ 11 aug 2011, 10:48 , Respect -
Maria 10 aug 2011
Analysis: 'Prisoners' of Israeli airspace
By Alaa Tartir
I never thought it was possible to be in prison in the sky. I always thought that prisons needed to be on the ground.
I also never thought that the prison could move and even fly: I always believed that cells needed to be rooted in the ground.
However, these two assumptions which I have believed for the last 26 years proved recently to be 'wrong.'
On a recent journey from Ramallah to London -- of course through the compulsory Amman route as the West Bank is not allowed an airport -- I experienced a new form of Israeli detention, this time in Israeli airspace.
It was an unpleasant experience, as passengers were forbidden from fulfilling basic human needs such as using the toilet, receiving food or water, or moving between seats to chat with friends.
I am fully aware that the denial of these basic human needs does not compare with the everyday violations of human rights that the Palestinians suffer on the ground due to the Israeli occupation, or with other violations of human rights in the wider region.
It may even seem ironic or silly to raise such issues in the context of the Arab Spring, while Syrian civilians are being killed and as thousands of Israelis demand social justice from their own unjust system.
But, while traveling, I was puzzled by a simple question: How many people from all over the world are imprisoned everyday in Israeli airspace?
On an Easyjet flight to Amman in June, around 45 minutes before landing, the pilot asked all passengers to remain seated and not to leave their seats.
Initially, I thought we had arrived early but this conclusion proved to be naive.
The crew manager started shouting: "Sit down ... sit down now ... you are not allowed to move ... sit down."
The flight attendant shouted so urgently and with such anger that I thought there was a potential terrorist trying to hijack the plane.
The potential terrorist turned out to be a four-year-old boy who desperately needed the toilet. His mother and father begged the crew manager to let him go, to no avail.
The boy messed his pants and (excuse me readers for this fact) the remaining passengers were forced to endure the smell of the boy's "weapon" which was not fatal but certainly unhygienic.
Several days ago I learned the reason for this scenario: Israeli security concerns.
On my flight back to London, I sat in the front row opposite the crew manager.
Early on in the flight, the pilot announced: "Ladies and gentlemen, we are now entering Israeli airspace and due to security requirements, all passengers must remain seated with their seat belts fastened until a further notice."
I looked at the crew manger at that point and said: "I am in an urgent need to use the toilet, can I please use it?"
While I felt like a pupil asking his teacher in the classroom for permission to use the bathroom, she told me confidently, "Sorry sir, this is not allowed at the moment, please wait and hold it."
I tried again, and she refused once again.
When I asked why, she told me "Due to the rules and regulations."
I asked which "rules and regulations," and after some hesitation, she said she truly didn't know but "We have been told that if any passenger moves that will be a threat to the Israeli security."
As a passenger, I felt I deserved a satisfactory reason why using the toilet presented a threat to Israel's security. I asked how she felt about this "plane arrest" for herself and the passengers she flew with to Amman.
As she blushed, the passenger next to me introduced himself as an American Jew and said: "So the government of Israel is also arresting us, the Jewish people."
I tell this story for illustrative reasons: my concern is that these airlines accept Israel's demand to "arrest" their passengers and deny their basic human rights.
How do the global civil aviation regulations allow Israel to apply this pressure? Why don't the stakeholders confront this policy? Why does the international community allow it?
And what would happen if every country imitated this policy for "security reasons?" Even short flights would be uncomfortable experiences.
I do not intend to discuss the well-known Israeli "rationale" behind its "security first" paradigm.
I wanted to illustrate that the occupation follows us all, not just Palestinians, who try to fly freely.
As the Palestinians try to gain international recognition as an independent state and membership of the United Nations, the international community must assess its role in sustaining and prolonging Israel's occupation and colonial practices.
Alaa Tartir is a PhD candidate at the London School of Economics
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=412253
5 sept 2011
Foreign Ministry officials admit: Turkey citizens routinely humiliated at Israel's airport
Dozens of Israelis say they were humiliated at Istanbul airport, forced to strip to their underwear on Monday; Foreign Ministry officials say humiliation of Turkish citizens happens on regular basis in Israel.
Foreign Ministry officials told Haaretz on Monday that over the past year, there were dozens of complaints on the part of Turkish citizens who claimed they were humiliated by Israeli security personnel at Ben-Gurion airport.
The officials also said that almost every Turkish citizen who arrives at Ben-Gurion airport undergoes a routine procedure of extensive, humiliating examinations that also include undressing to one's underwear.
"Turkish citizens are always separated from the rest of the passengers at the airport," said a Foreign Ministry official.
"When their luggage is thoroughly examined and they undergo extensive questioning they understand it comes from security needs, but when they get to the strip search part it breaks them and they are humiliated. Many Turkish businesspeople and tourists have complained about this in the past. This humiliation ceremony of Turkish citizens is a routine matter."
Earlier Monday, dozens of Israelis were questioned at length at Istanbul's airport and forced to undergo a strip search. Officials in Ankara said in response that Israel was first to humiliate passengers, saying that Turkish tourists were harassed in Israel's Ben-Gurion International Airport on Sunday evening, hours before the incident at Istanbul's airport the next morning.
The issue of security checks at Ben-Gurion has turned into a regular source of tension which causes embarrassing diplomatic incidents every several weeks. Foreign citizens routinely complain regarding their examinations, and some, who are official guests of the Foreign Ministry or other government offices also say they are humiliated often. Most of the incidents take place upon departure from Israel as opposed to landing.
"The Ben-Gurion issue is known and as much as we try to fix it, it does not help," said a Foreign Ministry official. "One time the Turks decide to treat us the same way and everyone gets all worked up."
The recent flare-up took place against the backdrop of a deepening diplomatic crisis between Israel and Turkey, after the UN-commissioned report on the 2010 Gaza flotilla raid was leaked to the New York Times, foiling a last-ditch effort to patch up relations between the two countries. Turkey then announced a series of measures against Israel, beginning with the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador and the downgrading of bilateral relations to the level of second secretary.
http://fwd4.me/0Ahw
Turkey: Israel was first to humiliate passengers at airport
Following reports of dozens of Israelis' prolonged questioning at Istanbul airport, Turkish officials say Israeli security personnel also delayed a group of Turkish tourists on Sunday, and thoroughly questioned them.
Turkish officials said Monday that Turkish tourists were harassed in Israel's Ben-Gurion International Airport on Sunday evening, hours before dozens of Israeli citizens were questioned at length at Istanbul's airport the next morning.
A group of Turkish tourists, who arrived in Israel for the holiday of Ramadan and visited Jerusalem, said that when they arrived at the airport, Israeli security personnel delayed them for several hours and ask them for personal details, including their phone numbers, email addresses, and marital status.
"They checked our luggage numerous times and later conducted a full body search. They made us undress to our underwear and also patted down all the women in separate rooms – only the Turkish passengers underwent such an examination," said one of the tourists.
According to the passengers, their flight was delayed due to the prolonged examination of the Turkish tourists' luggage, and the group's guide said that Turkish tourists were treated differently by Israeli security officials than the other tourists.
The Israel Airports Authority said in response that they are unaware of any out of the ordinary security checks that were carried out on the Turkish passengers.
http://fwd4.me/0Ahx 7 sep 2011, 08:01 , Respect -
Maria 6 sept 2011
Israel, Czech ink new air transport deal
A Czech Airlines passenger plane
Israel and the Czech Republic have signed a new air transport agreement that increases the number of regular interregional flights.
According to the new deal, the number of weekly passenger flights between Israel and the Czech Republic will rise to 36 from the current 12 flights, Israel's Channel 2 TV station reported on Monday.
Israeli Minister of Transport Israel Katz said the move aimed to increase the number passenger traffic “to and from Israel.”
Last year, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) had criticized Israel for its inferior aviation safety, warning of the economic damage the low safety ranking could cause Israeli airlines and passengers.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/197790.html 9 sep 2011, 12:28 , Respect -
Maria 9 sept 2011
Perhaps Israelis need humiliation to respect others
Israel should view the harassment of Israeli Turkish Airlines passengers humbly as it serves as an embarrassing reflection on us.
The Israeli response that has followed the harassment of Israeli Turkish Airlines passengers who experienced detention and intrusive body searches upon their arrival at Istanbul airport on Monday, borders on hysteria and hypocrisy. The incident was blown out of all proportion and immediately became an additional and unnecessary chapter in the friction between Turkey and Israel.
There is no doubt about the fact that the conduct of Istanbul airport authorities was improper, and it is unforgivable - even if it was the result of retaliation for similar treatment Israeli authorities accorded Turkish air travelers. Nonetheless, Israeli citizens, and even more so the Israeli government and the Israel Airports Authority, should view it more humbly inasmuch as it serves as an embarrassing reflection on us.
The security check that Turkish citizens - and passengers from other countries with a Muslim majority - experience as they travel through Israel is stringent, overbearing and humiliating. Israeli citizens have gotten used to taking off for Turkey without the need for a visa, enjoying the hospitality of Turkish tourism services and vacationing in their multitudes in Turkish cities, villages and beach resorts without any restriction. Turks seeking to come to Israel for a visit, however, have had to go through a real ordeal, beginning at the Israeli consulate, where on occasion they get turned down without explanation, and later - assuming they get a visa - ending with an exhausting and humiliating airport security check.
The State of Israel has never apologized to these visitors and has never thought they deserved compensation for the lost time and the insult. Israel doesn't bother at all to explain its offensive security inspection procedures. To this day, it has not provided a proper response to the High Court of Justice, which demanded an explanation over the blatant discrimination experienced by Israeli Arabs before they board flights here.
In recent years, Israeli Arabs have complained about the treatment they receive, which has far exceeded the limits that can be explained by security needs. This includes intrusive body searches, unbearable delays and questioning on matters that have nothing to do with the flight. Most of the airport's passengers ignore the outrageous discrimination, or are not even aware of it. Perhaps now, having tasted the bitterness of this humiliation, they will no longer take it for granted.
http://fwd4.me/0B3D