Saturday and no word from the 2 Swansea Women

Saturday, 9 July 2011

Saturday Morning and still no word from the Swansea women. However we picked up on Twitter that about 100 activists reached West Bank, 4 were deported, more than 80 are in Israeli detention camps pending deportation.

Video report about The Welcome to Palestine campaign which was launched by 40 Palestinian NGOs who invited 600 Europeans and Americans, along with their families, to come to Palestine and meet local families as well as take part in volunteer, cultural and development programs.The idea for the Welcome to Palestine campaign came after Israeli attempts to illegalize travel to Palestinian areas by implementing policies of deporting, denying entry and restricting access to foreigners who say they are coming to visit Palestinians.

Posted by Swansea Action for Palestine at 08:28 

http://www.swanseapalestine.org/2011/07/saturday-and-no-word-from-2-swansea.html

Palestine Government praise for Flytilla (Saturday, 9 July 2011)

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh has praised the activists who started the Gaza 'flytilla' campaign to support Palestinians living under Israeli occupation.

"More than 66 flights originated from different European cities to go to Al-Lod (Ben Gurion) airport to support the steadfastness of the Palestinian people, and to say no to the Zionist occupation," he told a crowd gathered at a mosque in Gaza City on Friday.

Photo:The EasyJet surrounded by Israeli Police

Israeli police detained 69 activists upon their arrival at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport on Friday. A total of 25 other activists were also denied entry into Israel.
The activists were part of the pro-Palestinian Welcome to Palestine campaign, which has been organizing the flytilla to Israel.

The effort is meant to be a complement to the Gaza Freedom Flotilla II, a convoy of ships organized by activists to deliver humanitarian supplies to the 1.5 million residents of the Gaza Strip.

The 10-ship humanitarian flotilla was scheduled to leave Greek ports for the coastal enclave in early July, with the goal of breaking Israel's blockade of the impoverished territory.

However, the flotilla was prohibited from leaving the ports after the Greek government made a sudden decision to impose a blanket ban on the departure of any vessels destined for Gaza.

French police arrested activists at Roissy-CDG airport last night, says spokesperson for French flytilla contingent. The group was prevented from taking off for Tel Aviv and had stayed at the airport to demand their money back. Now they are calling for demonstration of support at the French airport, 10a.m today.

 
Posted by Swansea Action for Palestine at 08:47

http://www.swanseapalestine.org/2011/07/palestine-government-praise-for.html

Israel to ban passengers from country for 10 years (Saturday, 9 July 2011)

Latest news according to Joseph Dana, a Journalist based in the West Bank
65 passengers are now in Israeli jails for the weekend before Israel will ban them from the country for ten years.

Posted by Swansea Action for Palestine at 09:03  
http://www.swanseapalestine.org/2011/07/israel-to-ban-passengers-from-country.html

Latest campaigners to be imprisoned in Israel (Saturday, 9 July 2011)

On Saturday morning, 39 more pro-Palestinian activists arrived at Ben-Gurion Airport and were refused entry to the country. They have been taken to Ela Prison in Beersheba for questioning .

The Immigration and Population Authority reported that the activists arrived on a Lufthansa flight late Friday night.

Now 124 activists have been detained in prisons around the country in total including the 2 Swansea Women. They are all awaiting deportation, including 76 women and 48 men. D Murphy (in photo) from Swansea has been requesting vegan meals in the prison and is in good spirits despite the surroundings.

Posted by Swansea Action for Palestine at 15:06  http://www.swanseapalestine.org/2011/07/latest-campaigners-to-be-imprisoned-in.html

First video of arrests ouside Airport

Friday, 8 July 2011

RT crew filmed the arrest of pro-Gaza activists, who were detained for chanting "Free Palestine"at Tel Aviv's international airport on Friday to show their support for activists arriving from abroad to take part in pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

Posted by Swansea Action for Palestine at 16:22 

http://www.swanseapalestine.org/2011/07/first-video-of-arrests-ouside-airport.html

TV report from Airport (Friday, 8 July 2011)

Israeli immigration and airport officials have been told to "act with determination" in deciding whether to allow people in. Euronews TV report

http://www.swanseapalestine.org/2011/07/tv-report-from-airport.html

Photo of plane which carried the women from UK (Friday, 8 July 2011)

This is the Easyjet plane which carried the 11 campaigners. Will it be the same plane which takes them home again or will they get past the Israeli blockade of Palestine? 

Posted by Swansea Action for Palestine at 16:50
http://www.swanseapalestine.org/2011/07/photo-of-plane-which-carried-women-from.html

Video report from airports in Switzerland, France and Belgium (Friday, 8 July 2011)

Video report of Palestine supporters being refused permission to fly to Middle East from Europe (2mins)

http://www.swanseapalestine.org/2011/07/video-report-of-blockades-in.html

 

85 people denied entry to Israel ( Friday, 8 July 2011)

Latest news is that Israeli Police have said that some 85 people have been denied entry at the airport. No news from our Swansea women yet so we don't know if they are being counted within that 85.'Security' forces detained 310 tourists for questioning at Ben-Gurion Airport.

Four of those denied entry were sent back to their original destinations, while the rest were taken into custody until flights could be arranged, Army Radio reported.

A report from an independent reporter said
'Some passengers have made it through the passport controls and are currently on their way to Bethlehem where there will be a large celebration marking their arrival this evening. Israeli lawyers are at the airport working with the detained passengers. Flights carrying activists are planned for the rest of the afternoon.'

 
Posted by Swansea Action for Palestine at 19:35

http://www.swanseapalestine.org/2011/07/69-people-denied-entry-to-israel.html

One UK person gets through Israeli blockade ( Friday, 8 July 2011)

TV report with British activist who has managed to cross the Israeli border.

Posted by Swansea Action for Palestine at 20:25 
http://www.swanseapalestine.org/2011/07/one-uk-person-gets-through-israeli.html

200 other pro-Palestinian activists stopped from entering Israel.

Friday, 8 July 2011

As Swansea women fly to Israel, 200 other pro-Palestinian activists stopped from entering Israel.

Around 200 pro-Palestinian activists were denied entry to Israel or were prevented from boarding flights to the country as part of an "aerial flotilla," Israel Radio reported today. Fifty pro-Palestinian activists on Friday morning arrived at the Lufthansa terminal at Paris's Charles de Gaulle Airport hoping to board a flight to Israel, and then refused to leave the terminal after they were denied from boarding the plane, Israel Radio reported.

The German airline refused to all them to board the flight to Israel via Frankfurt after the activists' names appeared on a blacklist submitted by Israeli authorities.

Olivia Zemour, leader of the EuroPalestine organization that is arranging the "aerial flotilla," said that the blacklist includes the names of 347 activists. 

 

Posted by Swansea Action for Palestine at 09:32  

http://www.swanseapalestine.org/2011/07/200-other-pro-palestinian-activists.html

Photos of the 2 Swansea Women (Friday, 8 July 2011)

Book keeper D Murphy from Swansea city centre and Council Worker Fiona Williams from Mumbles photographed in Swansea before they went to Tel Aviv. 

 

http://www.swanseapalestine.org/2011/07/photos-of-2-swansea-women.html

Swansea Women Fly to Israel in Air Travel Protest (Friday, 8 July 2011)

Two women from Swansea left for Israel this morning to join an international protest against the blockade of Palestine.

Council worker Fiona Williams from Mumbles and book-keeper D.Murphy from Mount Pleasant boarded their plane bound for Ben Guirion airport, Tel Aviv. They are part of a group of 16 people traveling from the UK. Dramatically one man was seized on the steps by Police as they boarded and refused him permission to fly.

In Paris, more than one hundred people have been refused permission to fly to Tel Aviv following demands from Israel. They are refusing to leave Charles De Gaulle airport. In Amsterdam, 2 journalists were also refused permission to fly.

It is expected that Israel will deport many of people once they arrive in Tel Aviv.

Fiona Williams said before she left
'We intend to express solidarity with the Palestinians in the West Bank and draw attention to life under Israeli occupation'

Visitors can reach the West Bank only through Israeli-controlled crossings, either through international airports or the land border with Jordan.Citing security concerns, Israel bars most Palestinians from entering Israel or using its airport.

Their plane will touch down in Israel at 13.20pm British Time.

Notes to Editors:
Photos of the 2 Swansea women are available from paulo@undercurrents.org
Details and updates on http://www.swanseapalestine.org/
Interviews with the women maybe possible once they land. To arrange call Paul on 07973 298359
http://www.swanseapalestine.org/2011/07/swansea-women-fly-to-israel-in-air.html

Swansea Women have landed in Israel (Friday, 8 July 2011)

The 2 Swansea women are among 11 people from UK who have landed in the airport in Tel Aviv and being held by Police. The mood amongst the people is expectant but good. Police are calling each person by name for questioning.

While waiting her turn for questioning, D Murphy said
'We are resolved. If we are held, it will be for NOT lying.'

She is referring to the fact that most people who wish to travel to Palestine are forced to lie in order to get past the Israeli checkpoints.
http://www.swanseapalestine.org/2011/07/swansea-women-have-landed-in-israel.html

Fiona taken for questioning by Police (Friday, 8 July 2011)

Swansea Council worker Fiona Williams, and another campaigner Joy, have been taken somewhere for questioning by Police. Spirits are good despite the heavy presence of Israeli Police. The people are asking a lawyer to demand a deportation hearing as they have done nothing wrong.

At least 60 pro-Palestinian activists taken from EasyJet, Alitalia flights for police interrogation. Outside the airport 6 left-wing activists arrested after causing disturbance. Police diverted two passenger aircrafts that landed at Ben-Gurion International Airport, detaining at least 60 suspected pro-Palestinian activists for questioning.

The flights, one EasyJet from Geneva and one Alitalia, were diverted to Terminal 1, where police combed passengers for pro-Palestinian activists expected to attempt entry into the country as part of the "air flotilla,"

After police finished checking the flights, passengers not connected to the groups of activists were ferried back to Terminal 3. The suspected activists were taken to a separate area of the airport for questioning.Undercover agents and police continue to be deployed at Ben-Gurion Airport as more "air flotilla" participants were expected to arrive.

Meanwhile, six left-wing Israeli activists were arrested after causing a disturbance in the arrivals area at Terminal Three police added.The activists held up signs inside the terminal saying "Welcome to Palestine.


http://www.swanseapalestine.org/2011/07/fiona-taken-for-questioning-by-police.html

First UK person to be told she will be deported from Israel ( Friday, 8 July 2011)

Joy Cherkaoui, the woman who was taken away and being questioned with Fiona, has been told she is going to be deported. Joy is from Scotland and has been a member of the Scottish Socialist Party.

'We are not going willingly' is the outcome of a group decision

http://www.swanseapalestine.org/2011/07/first-uk-person-to-be-told-she-will-be.html

Big cheers for the Swansea women (Friday, 8 July 2011)

The 2 Swansea women are being held with 30 others from France and Belgium and the spirits are very high with cheering when the Swansea women arrived.

62 tourists who landed on Friday in Israel were taken in for questioning by the Interior Ministry's Population Immigration and Border Control authority, after being suspected of involvement in the pro-Palestinian Gaza fly-in.

So far, a total of 25 activists from Belgium, France, Spain, Germany, Holland and the United States were denied entry into Israel and will be deported back to their countries on the earliest flight available.
Photo shows the EasyJet plane and the passengers with Police surrounding the steps

 
Posted by Swansea Action for Palestine at 16:04

http://www.swanseapalestine.org/2011/07/big-cheers-for-swansea-women.html

French refused permission to fly to Israel

Friday, 8 July 2011

French refused permission to fly to Israel 

 

Malev Hungarian Airlines barred around 20 activists from boarding a flight from Paris to Budapest on the first leg of their journey to Tel Aviv, according to French activists involved in the “Welcome to Palestine” event on Friday.

  

A letter from the Interior Ministry to the airlines provided to The Jerusalem Post by the activists said that “due to statements of pro-Palestinian radicals to arrive on commercial flights from abroad to disrupt the order and confront security forces at friction points, it was decided to refuse their entry in accordance with our authority according to the Law of Entry to Israel 1952... In light of the above-mentioned, you are required not to board them on your flights to Israel.

Failure to comply with this directive would result in a delay on the flight and their return on the same flight.”



Pic - Amazing action for #Flotilla2 in #Paris, in protest to Greek blockade, taken from the Eiffel Tower. #Gaza


http://www.swanseapalestine.org/2011/07/french-refused-permission-to-fly-to.html