British politicians among international delegates barred from entering West Bank
Summary
Israeli forces barred a 23-person international delegation, including three serving British elected representatives and former Labour MP Sam Tarry, from entering the West Bank. The group said it planned to meet Palestinian communities and attend a congress in Ramallah; delegates reported being detained and questioned for nine hours at the Allenby/King Hussein Bridge.Key Facts
- The delegation included four elected representatives and people from France, Spain, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Greece, the Netherlands, Ireland and the United States.
- The British representatives were Clive Lewis, Lara Bird and Kate Nevens; Sam Tarry is a former MP.
- The group planned to attend the Second Ramallah Congress, organised by Progressive International with Birzeit University, and meet Palestinian academics, students and civil society groups.
- Clive Lewis said delegates were taken aside and questioned. Sam Tarry said they were held for nine hours at the Allenby/King Hussein Bridge.
- The article reports that Israeli media said Defence Minister Israel Katz had instructed officials to pursue exclusion orders against activists accompanying Palestinian olive harvesters.
- The UN aid coordination office recorded at least 160 Israeli settler attacks linked to the olive harvest in the first two weeks of October.
- Recent incidents cited in the article included Israeli forces attacking European diplomats and a French mayor accompanying farmers, and detaining about 80 olive-harvest volunteers, including U.S. congressional candidate Brad Lander.
- The Israeli embassy had been contacted for comment.
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