Israel denies entry to two EU lawmakers

TEL AVIV — Israel barred two MEPs from entering the country on Monday, accusing one of them of advocating boycotts against Israel.

Lynn Boylan (Sinn Féin-The Left), head of the European Parliament’s EU-Palestine delegation, and Rima Hassan (La France Insoumise-The Left) were stopped at Ben-Gurion Airport and sent back to Europe.

Interior Minister Moshe Arbel justified the decision by claiming that French politician Hassan had “consistently worked to promote boycotts against Israel in addition to numerous public statements both on social media and in media interviews”.

No specific reason was provided for Boylan’s expulsion.

Boylan stated she had planned to meet Palestinian Authority officials, civil society representatives, and residents living under Israeli occupation. She condemned the refusal to admit her to the country.

“This utter contempt from Israel is the result of the international community failing to hold them to account,” Boylan said. “Israel is a rogue state, and this disgraceful move shows the level of utter disregard that they have for international law."

"Europe must now hold Israel to account."

Last Friday, The Left group called for the immediate suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, citing the International Court of Justice's investigation into crimes against Palestinians in Gaza.

The MEPs' expulsion follows recently passed Israeli legislation that prohibits entry for individuals who have denied Hamas’ attack on 7 October 2023 or supported international prosecution of Israeli soldiers.

The law, which applies to non-citizens and non-residents, builds on existing legislation that prohibits entry to individuals advocating boycotts against Israel. It also applies to those who deny the Holocaust.

Critics in Israel and abroad say the original law was designed to suppress dissent. It has previously been used to refuse entry to activists supporting the Palestinian-led movement known as Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions, or BDS.

While BDS supporters compare their campaign to the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, Israel claims the movement seeks to undermine its legitimacy as a state and that some of its leaders are antisemitic — an accusation BDS organizers deny.

Hassan urged demonstrators to rally outside the European Union headquarters, where a meeting of the EU-Israel Association Council took place on Monday.

Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar was on a diplomatic visit to Brussels for the EU-Israel Association Council. The council does not meet frequently, and Monday's meeting was called amid pressure from Spain and Ireland to suspend the forum over Israel’s actions in Gaza. Saar met with several European leaders in Brussels.

Speaking earlier on Monday, Saar defended Israel’s stance on criticism from European leaders.

“It’s OK as long as the criticism is not connected to the delegitimization, demonization or double standards, which from time to time are things we see in the attacks against Israel,” he said. — Euronews