Netanyahu vows to stop 'aerial flotilla' although authorities admit to difficulties

There is no way to enter occupied Palestine except by passing through Israeli-controlled checkpoints. The Welcome to Palestine initiative organising the 'fly-in' aims to highlight this fact, and the 700 activists involved plan to engage in peaceful solidarity activities on the West Bank, assuming the entry attempt is successful. Visit the Right to Enter site.

From JPost

Officials tell Netanyahu that activists at Ben-Gurion Airport from Europe will be hard to identify, goal is to keep airport running normally.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu toured Ben Gurion International Airport along with Police Insp.-Gen. Yochanan Danino and Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch Wednesday morning to discuss preparations for the arrival of hundreds of Gaza activists arriving from Europe this Friday, Army Radio reported...

...One protester, speaking to Army Radio Wednesday, said that he and other protesters were planning on arriving to Ben Gurion Airport as tourists destined for the West Bank.

According to the activist, the difference between him and any other tourist visiting Israel is that he and other demonstrators will tell security officials that they plan on visiting Palestinian cities...

...The activists, mostly European, are participating in an event that is supported by 40 Palestinian non-governmental groups, called “Welcome Palestine.” They are hoping they will be able to get on their flight, land in Ben-Gurion Airport and explain to the Israeli customs officials that they have come to visit “Palestine.” If they are allowed to pass through customs, they plan to spend a week in the Palestinian territories engaging in a series of solidarity activities in support of Palestinian statehood.

If they are halted before getting on their flights or are deported once they have arrived, they hope that the spectacle of authorities dealing with 700 activists will publicize the difficulties Palestinians and their supporters face with regard to freedom of movement and access in and out of the West Bank. The organizers said that their actions are not connected to the Gaza flotilla or the naval blockade of Gaza. more

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