Sunday, August 26, 2012

Pro-Palestinian activists seek entry from Jordan

TOVAH LAZAROFF
LAST UPDATED: 08/26/2012 

In third Welcome to Palestine initiative, over 100 activists will attempt to cross into the West Bank via Allenby Bridge.

Detained 'flytilla' activists at Ben-Gurion Airpor Photo: Avi Ohayon / GPO
 
Some 100 pro-Palestinian activists, mostly from Europe, will seek entry into Israel from Jordan via the Allenby Bridge on Sunday.

It is the third Welcome to Palestine initiative in which activists protest Israel’s policy of banning visitors it believes could cause public disorder.
Pro-Palestinian protesters believe that Israel applies the ban too broadly to include political ideology. The activists said they want to spend a week in the West Bank engaged in peaceful activities. Upon arrival at the bridge they plan to tell Israeli officials that they have come to visit Palestine.


In July 2011 and again in April 2012, activists from the Welcome to Palestine initiative held a protest to highlight that issue, in which activists – mostly from Europe – flew into Ben-Gurion Airport on the same day.
When Israel complained that it was an inappropriate venue, they shifted to the Allenby Bridge.

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