Two MPs and an MSP Detained and Turned Back by Israel
An SNP member of parliament, a Labour member and a Scottish Greens member of the Scottish Parliament say they were held for eight hours at the crossing from Jordan and refused entry to the West Bank. Israel’s embassy says the group gave false information about the purpose of its visit.
The three travelled as part of a 23-strong delegation and say they intended to “stand alongside Palestinians being attacked for harvesting olives on their own land”. By their account their passports were seized at the King Hussein Bridge, they were interviewed one by one, and were eventually put on a bus back to the Jordanian border; one said she was told there was “evidence that I hate Israel” and that this was among the reasons for refusing her. The embassy’s account is squarely opposed: the group “failed to cooperate with border officials” and provided “false information about the purpose of their visit”. Both versions are given here because neither can be checked. The foreign secretary told the Commons the government was “deeply concerned”, had raised it with Israeli authorities, and that it was “very, very important” that members of the House have free access internationally to do their duties. One caution: this rests on a single approved outlet, with no second source and nothing published by the Foreign Office.