An international delegation that included British politicians has been refused entry to the West Bank. The group had planned to meet Palestinian children, farmers and community leaders who are facing mounting violence from Israeli forces during the olive harvest season.
The delegation had 23 members from countries including France, Spain, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Greece, Holland, Ireland and the US. Four were elected representatives: the Labour MP Clive Lewis, the Scottish National party MP Lara Bird, the Scottish Greens MSP Kate Nevens and the former Labour MP Sam Tarry.
Lewis described to the Guardian what happened at the crossing. "We were detained, taken aside and then interrogated," he said, adding that people were shouted at and asked why they were going in and why their stories differed. "The bottom line was it was a deeply unpleasant experience."
The visitors were due to take part in Progressive International's Second Ramallah Congress, a gathering opposed to Israeli occupation in Palestine. Progressive International organised the event with Birzeit University, and its programme includes meetings with Palestinian academics, students and civil society organisations.
Tarry said he believed the group had a "genuine chance of going across", but that Israeli forces held them for nine hours at the Allenby/King Hussein Bridge in Jordan. He called the outcome a clear political decision. "They made a political decision very clearly based on the fact they didn't want people to witness what's been going on in the West Bank, especially ahead of the elections," he said.
The refusals come amid attacks by Israeli forces on Palestinian olive farmers, as well as on foreign press and activists in the area. Foreign travel to parts of the West Bank is allowed, though it is subject to military checkpoints. Earlier this month, Israeli media reported that the defence minister, Israel Katz, had told officials to pursue exclusion orders against activists heading to Palestinian olive-harvesting areas.
The UN aid coordination office recorded at least 160 Israeli settler attacks linked to the olive harvest in the first two weeks of October. These were often carried out under the protection of Israeli forces or with their participation. Israeli forces also attacked European diplomats and a French mayor who were accompanying Palestinian farmers, and about 80 olive-harvest volunteers, among them US congressional candidate Brad Lander, were recently detained.
Bird said in a statement that she had come to stand with Palestinians being attacked for harvesting olives on their own land, but was turned away with no reason given. "If Israel has nothing to hide, why is it so determined to stop us seeing what is happening in the occupied West Bank?" she asked.
Laila Hazaineh, a political coordinator for Progressive International, said the delegation remained determined to cross despite the escalating violence. "Every refusal of entry will only strengthen this determination," she said. The Israeli embassy has been contacted for comment.
