Gaza fly-in: Activists arrested
Pro, anti-fly-in protesters rally at Ben Gurion Airport after relatively quiet morning, as security forces brace for afternoon flights. Six foreign activists deported, five local protesters arrested
A relatively quiet morning was noted at the Ben Gurion International Airport, as security forces remained on high alert ahead of possible disruptions by pro-Palestinian activists arriving in Israel.
Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch and Police Commissioner Yohanan Danino held a situation assessment at the airport, and rejected criticism over the mass deployment at the airport; which they said contributed greatly to the morning's smooth operations.
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Six pro-Palestinian activists who arrived at the airport and declared they were part of the fly-in have been deported so far.
Activists arrested at Ben-Gurion Airport (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg)
Also present at Ben Gurion Airport on Friday were both pro-Palestinian and anti-"flytilla" protesters.
Michelle Moshelian – holding a sign reading "15,000 dead in Arab spring, not one Western activist" – explained that she was protesting the fly-in's hypocrisy.
"The activists coming here are in the wrong place. They should go to Libya, to Syria. It's hypocritical that we don’t see these kinds of demonstrations against other countries. I can't stand this hate, this demonization." Moshelian added that she came to Israel when she was 25. "I didn’t have the chance to serve in the army, so I see this as my contribution to Israel."
Pro-Palestinian activists (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg)
A little after noon, a group of Israeli pro-Palestinian activists attempted to riot at the airport: The group barged into the arrivals hall, shouting "Free Palestine." They were booed by some of the passengers and five of them were arrested.
Michal Wexler one of the left wing activists from Tel Aviv that came to Ben Gurion Airport said: "There is an illegal siege on Gaza and Palestine. Those who wish to come and support should be allowed in.
"What's going on here is harassment based on politics. This is an illegal, undemocratic, unfair siege. Peace activists from around the world are deported from Ben Gurion Airport all the time and harassed on a regular basis."
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