BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Visitors on a tour of Palestine began to arrive in Israel on Sunday, as demonstrations were held in European airports to protest the barring of dozens of tourists as part of the 'Welcome to Palestine' initiative.
Organizer Mazin Qumsiyeh said several passengers had arrived, and Israeli news site Ynet reported three passengers from Paris had been allowed to enter after questioning in Ben Gurion airport.
Spokesman to the Israeli Prime Minister Ofir Gendelman said on Twitter that 27 "provocateurs" had been denied entry at the airport.
Israeli supporters gathered at the arrivals hall to welcome the passengers, and Israeli police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld said two were detained by police for "causing a disturbance."
Earlier, organizers told Israeli daily Haaretz that more than 60 percent of the expected 1,500 had flights canceled by airlines, after Israel circulated a blacklist of passengers and warned it would fine carriers.
An Interior Ministry spokeswoman said the Immigration Authority had on Wednesday given airlines the names of some 1,200 activists whose entrance to Israel has been barred.
On Saturday, Micky Rosenfeld said that hundreds of police officers had been deployed in and around Ben Gurion airport.
Meanwhile, protests were held in Brussels, Paris, Geneva and Rome airports to support the initiative, Qumsiyeh said. more
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