Police detained ten pro-Palestinian activists who flew to Israel as part of the "flytilla" protest on Sunday morning, including one woman the police described as "a leader of the activists." The activists want to draw attention to Israel’s practice of barring foreigners it believes could cause trouble by engaging in pro-Palestinian activities during their visit.
Hundreds of unarmed police officers were guarding the airport on Sunday, with Israel preparing to bar entry to some 2,000 activists total from at least 15 different countries, mostly in Europe, either by preventing them from boarding their flights or by deporting them once they arrive. Police estimated that anywhere from 500 to 1,000 activists would actually succeed in boarding flights and arrive at Ben-Gurion Airport.
Four of the activists who were detained arrived in Israel from Paris. Several hours later, authorities refused entry to a Portuguese national who arrived from Jordan and a Canadian national who flew to Israel from the US. The woman that police described as a "flytilla leader" was detained along with three other protesters arriving on a flight from Switzerland. The activists were expected to be returned to their points of embarkation.
Sunday is expected to be one of Israel’s busiest air travel days, with some 45,000 passengers landing and taking off from Ben-Gurion. Terminal 3 remained relatively quiet Sunday morning with ordinary movement of passengers in and out, and a noticeable police presence at the arrivals hall.
A small number of pro-Israel activists with Israeli flags were also present, awaiting the arrival of pro-Palestinian activists. One of the pro-Israel activists, Yoni Klein of Ramat Gan, said, "We have to show our Zionism and provide better hasbara (public diplomacy). The world does not see this enough."
Canadian lone soldier Ze’ev Ben-Yosef, 24, who arrived in Israel from Vancouver three months ago was also among the pro-Israel activists at the airport. "I’m here to show my solidarity with the State of Israel," Ben-Yosef said, adding that the flytilla activists were "coming with bad intentions, they want to cause disruption at the airport. We’re here as patriots that are loyal to the State of Israe and to show that with every act of hatred we become stronger."
National Union MK Michael Ben-Ari was also present to protest the flytilla along with right-wing activist Baruch Marzel.
Dozens of pro-Palestinian activists demonstrated at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris and Brussels national airport Sunday morning after several airlines prevented people attempting to fly to Israel as part of the protest from boarding airplanes.
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.
One official explained that if someone flies into a country without the necessary visa or is not given that visa when he or she lands, the responsibility – and expense – for flying the person back falls on the airline.