Arab journalist: I was harrassed
The successful trip to Israel of Arab journalist Ali al-Salah, senior analyst for the London-based newspaper 'Asharq alawsat,' ended on bad note at Israel's Ben-Gurion International airport
I was detained at Ben-Gurion Airport for two hours for questioning; I was asked where I came from, what I did while in Israel, and what reports I wrote. It's a shame that after a successful visit, I am treated in such manner, Ali a-Salah, head of the Israel and Palestinian affairs desk in the London newspaper "asharq alawsat, said.
A-Salah, a world renowned Arab journalist, arrived in Israel to cover the implementation of the Gaza Strip disengagement. He said he was welcomed by the IDF: "My visit went very smoothly. The army assisted and was very supportive. Yet everything changed when I arrived at the airport."
"It is unacceptable and irritating. I even have a press card from the Government Press Office, but that didn't make a difference. I was interrogated by people who had no idea of what my job was," he explained.
'I support the pullout'
Salah's colleagues said that even though he has experienced this type of behavior in the past, this time around it was much worse due to the masses of foreign journalists who are in Israel to cover the disengagement.
"I notified the PM's Office, the Foreign Ministry and the IDF Spokeswoman's Office and warned them that a journalist representing a leading Arabic newspaper can not be treated disrespectfully," Nazir Mjali, the newspaper's correspondent in Israel, said.
"What the IDF built with great effort was destroyed by airport security personnel's foolish behavior."
When asked about his feelings regarding the disengagement, a-Salah said: "As an Arab, I obviousely support the withdrawal from the Gaza Strip because it is occupied land. Yet - beyond politics - I am a person too. It hurt me to see a child crying. Beyond politics, we should sympathize with the other side's pain and tragedies."
The airport's spokeswoman said a-Salah was checked by security just like any other passenger departing Israel and that he boarded his flight on time.
The spokeswoman added, "Security checks at the Ben-Gurion airport are conducted according to guidelines set by government agencies and under their supervision. Airport authorities treat all passengers courteously."
