Several European airlines including Air France, Lufthansa and SN Brussels, canceled flight tickets to Tel Aviv of dozens of pro-Palestinian activists who were planning to arrive in Israel to participate to the so-called "Welcome to Palestine" campaign in the West Bank for the third year.
Israel had warned that it planned to bar entry by some 2,000 activists from at least 15 different countries, mostly in Europe, either by preventing them from boarding their flights or by deporting them once they arrive in Tel Aviv.
"As part of the Chicago Convention, Air France refuses to board any passenger ineligible by Israel," a spokesman for Air France said in Paris, stating that the passenger list had been provided by Israel.
Passengers had to embark from Roissy-Charles de Gaulle and Nice.
At Brussels airport, at least 60 Belgians and nearly 40 French who wanted to participate in this campaign, dubbed the “flytilla”, were not able to board planes to Tel Aviv Sunday morning.
According to the Belgian public radio, some 150 people demonstrated in the departure hall of the airport at check-in counters of SN Brussels Airport, Lufthansa and Swissair. Police arrested some of the protesters.
German airline Lufthansa on Friday already announced the cancellation of tickets to Tel Aviv for the pro-Palestinian activists. British airlines easyJet and Jet2.com have announced a similar decision on Saturday.
"We regret to inform you that the Israeli immigration service informed us that your entry into Israel was denied. We therefore have no choicebut to cancel your reservation," could be read in an email sent by easyJet to those passengers.
EeasyJet cites regulations requiring it to follow the instructions of the Israeli authorities and returns passengers to the Israeli Embassy for any other matter. The Israeli Minister of Transport, Israel Katz, said Israel "cannot let troublemakers" into Israel.
The pro-palestinian activists arriving Sunday at Ben-gurion Airport as part of the anti-Israel fly-in dubbed the "flytilla" were greeted with a sarcastic letter noting that while they could have chosen to protest the brutality in Syria, Iran and Gaza, they opted instead to protest against the "Middle East’s sole democracy."
"Dear activist," starts the letter translated into a number of different languages for the participants of "Welcome to Palestine."
"We appreciate your choosing to make Israel the object of your humanitarian concerns," the letter continues. "We know there were many other worthy choices."
The letter drawn up by Israel's Prime Minister’s Office – noted, that the activists "could have chosen to protest the Syrian regime’s daily savagery against its own people, which has claimed thousands of lives."
Alternatively, they could have chosen to protest "the Iranian regime’s brutal crackdown on dissent and support of terrorism throughout the world." Or, if they simply had to come to this part of the globe, they "could have chosen to protest Hamas rule in Gaza, where terror organizations commit a double war crime by firing rockets at civilians and hiding behind civilians."
Instead, "you chose to protest against Israel, the Middle East’s sole democracy, where women are equal, the press criticizes the government, human rights organizations can operate freely, religious freedom is protected for all and minorities do not live in fear."
The letter concludes with a suggestion that the activists first solve "the real problems of the region” and then “come back and share with us your experience."
In an indication that Israel will not let the protesters in but will instead deport them back to their countries of origin, the letter ends with the line: "Have a nice flight."
Last year, Israel worked with airlines to prevent hundreds of activists from boarding planes bound for Ben Gurion Airport, and detained and later deported others who managed to arrive.
The Foreign Ministry has over the past few weeks been in discussions with its counterparts in capitals around the world, explaining Israel’s position regarding the fly-in and making clear that those coming to engage in provocative actions would not be given an entry visa.
Israeli authorities circulated to the airlines the names of some 1,200 pro-Palestinian activists expected to participate, in the hope that the companies would prevent them from boarding.
Already on Wednesday, Amnon Shmueli, who heads the Immigration Authority at Ben Gurion Airport, sent a letter to all airlines with a list of names of the people it believed were planning on participating in flytilla, according to a document posted on its website.
The document said, "Due to statements of pro-palestinian radicals to arrive on commercial flights from abroad to disrupt order and confront security forces at friction points, it was decided to deny their entry."
"Attached is a list of passengers that are denied entry to Israel. In light of the above mentioned, you are ordered not board them on your flights," the letter states. "Failure to comply with this directive will result in sanctions against the airlines."
Israel's public security minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch has upervised a meeting of the security forces that will be in charge of the operation at Ben Gurion, including airport authorities, immigration officials and police.
"No provocation will be tolerated," he said in statements relayed by his office. "As any other country would do, Israel will stop hostile elements from entering its territory."

EJP