Israeli authorities deny European delegation entry to West Bank farmers
Two Scottish politicians and a wider group of European elected representatives were denied entry to the West Bank by Israeli authorities while travelling from Jordan. They said they intended to meet Palestinian farmers and others, and described the incident as preventing them from showing support and witnessing conditions there.
SNP MP Lara Bird said the group was held and questioned for eight hours before being turned away, with no reason given. Labour MP Clive Lewis said they had anticipated possible detention or questioning; the delegation, which included Green MSP Kate Nevens, was travelling with Progressive International and planned to meet farmers facing reported settler violence during the olive harvest.
In short
- European politicians were refused entry to the West Bank.
- Lara Bird said they were questioned for eight hours.
- The delegation planned to meet Palestinian farmers and civil society members.
Explained simply
The West Bank is a territory captured by Israel in the 1967 war. Palestinians live there under a mix of Palestinian Authority administration and Israeli military control, while Israeli settlements are also located across the territory.
The olive harvest is an important source of income for many Palestinian farming families. Farmers have reported attacks and damage to crops by Israeli settlers, though the circumstances and responsibility for individual incidents can be disputed.
European politicians sometimes travel to the West Bank to meet residents and observe conditions. Israel controls access to the territory from Jordan, so visitors may be questioned or refused entry; access decisions can affect what outside visitors are able to see and report.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “British politicians held by Israeli authorities after ‘trying to enter the West Bank to meet olive farmers’”.