TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) – On Monday, Israel denied entry to Rima Hassan, a member of the European Parliament, citing her history of promoting boycotts against the country. The announcement was made by Israel's Interior Minister Moshe Arbel, who characterized Hassan's actions as consistent calls for boycotts of Israel, supported by her public statements on social media and in interviews.
Hassan, a 32-year-old politician born in Aleppo, Syria, represents The Left group in the European Parliament. She traveled to Israel alongside four other lawmakers as part of an EU-Palestine delegation. Upon her arrival, Hassan was informed that she was denied entry and was subsequently forced to wait for a flight back to Europe, a decision that her office stated they were not notified about beforehand.
This incident comes on the heels of a new law passed by Israeli legislators that restricts entry to individuals who have denied or supported Hamas' recent actions during the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. This law specifically targets non-citizens and non-residents of Israel and expands previous legislation that already barred entry to boycott advocates. Furthermore, it includes provisions against Holocaust deniers.
Critics argue that the original law is a tool for Israel to silence dissent and has been utilized to prevent the entry of activists supporting the boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement (BDS), which advocates for Palestinian rights. Supporters of the BDS movement claim it is a nonviolent response similar to the anti-apartheid efforts against South Africa, while Israel perceives it as a challenge to its legitimacy and has accused some BDS leaders of antisemitism, which they deny.
Prior to the denial of her entry, Rima Hassan and her political group called for the immediate suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. This pact is significant as it defines the relations between the European Union and Israel, particularly in light of the International Court of Justice's investigation into alleged crimes against Palestinians in Gaza.
Hassan is affiliated with the French far-left party, France Unbowed, and had called for a demonstration outside the EU headquarters during a meeting that took place on Monday. This gathering coincided with a diplomatic visit by Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar to Brussels for discussions with European leaders, where the EU-Israel Association Council convened amidst calls for action against Israel’s ongoing operations in Gaza, notably from Spain and Ireland.
During his visit, Saar addressed the press, asserting that Israel is accustomed to facing criticism and is prepared to engage in open discussions. He emphasized that while criticism is acceptable, it becomes problematic when it perpetuates the delegitimization, demonization, or double standards that Israel occasionally faces in international discourse.
Overall, the incident with Hassan highlights ongoing tensions surrounding Israel's border policies and its response to international criticism, particularly from lawmakers and activists advocating for Palestinian rights. The political implications of such actions are significant given the ongoing conflict and the international community's scrutiny of Israel’s actions in Palestine.
