Israel sets clear entry policy for BDS activists
The Israeli government sets clear standards for barring entry to individuals 'consistently and continuously engaged in boycotting the state;' persons or organizations critical of government policy still welcome.
The Ministry of Interior, together with the Population and Immigration Authority, has finished formulating its standards for barring entry and citizenship to people who are actively engaged in boycotting the State of Israel.
This followed the amendment to the Entry to Israel law, which was passed in March and states that "no visa or residence permit of any kind shall be granted to a person who is not an Israeli citizen or has a permanent residence permit in the State of Israel if he, the organization or body for which he is acting, has knowingly and publically called for a boycott of the State of Israel."
According to the new amendment, persons who are consistently and continuously engaged in boycotting the State of Israel will be barred from entering, while critics of government policy however, will be allowed to enter.
More specifically, Israel will deny entry and residence to "senior or significant officials in prominent boycott organizations, people who take active, consistent and continuous action to promote boycotts within the framework of prominent or independent boycott organizations, institutions that promote boycotts actively and continuously and activists who come to Israel on behalf of one of the most prominent boycott organizations."
In exceptional cases, officials can recommend entry for a person who meets these criteria. This is done out of the consideration that preventing their entry may cause more harm to Israel or because of political and humanitarian concerns.
Interior Ministry Aryeh Deri said, "The criteria do not leave room for questions. As the minister responsible for the entry of foreigners into Israel, I am obligated to preserve its security and to ensure that those who are likely to harm the state do not receive legitimacy and backing by having their entry into Israel approved."
Minister of Public Security Gilad Erdan said, "No sane state would allow boycott activists who want to harm its existence entry. Foreigners who want to come to Israel in order to delegitimize us need to understand that this is not on the agenda."
As mentioned however, the law states that "the fact that an organization has a critical agenda towards the policy of the Israeli government does not constitute grounds for preventing the entry of its activists into Israel."
