2 airlines cancel 'flytilla' activists' tickets
Air France, Jet2.com cancel tickets of four West Bank-bound women at Israel's request
British airline Jet2.com and Air France have cancelled the tickets of four women planning to travel to Israel on Sunday to take part in the pro-Palestinian "flytilla" protest.
According to The Guardian, the low-cost airline relented to Israel's request to refuse the women service.
"It never crossed my mind that Israel could stop people with British passports leaving British airports," One of the women, Norma Turner, told the Guardian.
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Jet2.com informed the women by email that the airline has refused to carry them and would not issue a refund.
The airline said in the messages it had been obliged to provide the Israeli authorities passengers' names, dates of birth, passport numbers and nationalities.
Police to stop activists at BGA (Archive photo: Yaron Brener)
"As a result of providing that information, Jet2.com has been informed by the Israeli authorities that you will not be not permitted to enter Israel," the e-mails said. "Consequently, if Jet2.com carries you to Israel, you will be refused entry and Jet2.com will be liable for both a fine and your return to Manchester.
"We regret that, in light of the decision taken by the Israeli authorities, we are unable to accept you for carriage to Israel on this occasion and your booking with Jet2.com has been cancelled."
The airline apologized and said the cancellation was "totally beyond our control" but said the passengers would not be reimbursed.
Meanwhile, Julie Lachapelle, a Canadian activist, received a message of similar nature from Air France.
Air France and Jet2.com join German airline Lufthansa, which cancelled dozens of airline tickets reserved by "flytilla" passengers on Friday.
Some1,500 pro-Palestinian activists from several countries plan to land in Ben Gurion Airport on Sunday, and from there proceed to the Palestinian Authority.
The Immigration and Population Authority has requested airlines to avoid transporting known activists, explaining that the protesters intend to travel to Israel illegally and therefore will be denied entrance. The airlines would be held responsible for taking deported activists back to their countries of origin. An unwelcome passenger list was attached to the request.
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