Anti-Israel parliamentarians claimed to be traveling as part of official delegation, but the UK government did not confirm the trip in advance with Israeli authorities.
By World Israel News Staff
Two left-wing British parliamentarians were denied entry to Israel after they landed at Ben-Gurion Airport on Saturday, the Population and Immigration Authority announced in a statement.
Yemen-born MP Abtisam Mohamed and MP Yuan Yang arrived on a flight from Luton at 2:30 PM and attempted to enter Israel with two aides, telling border security that they were traveling as part of an official British government delegation.
Notably, the UK government had not informed Israel about the arrival of the delegation, which raised red flags for the airport officials.
Mohamed and Yang, both of the Labour party, were denied entry to the country because they planned to “document the activities of security forces and spread anti-Israel hatred,” the Population and Immigration Authority said.
After the pair were questioned, they were deported along with their aides “in accordance with the law,” Interior Minister Moshe Arbel said.
The Israeli Embassy in the UK said that Mohammed and Yang were not allowed to enter Israel because they were engaged in “actively promoting sanctions against Israeli ministers while supporting campaigns aimed at boycotting the State of Israel.”
Under Israeli law, foreign nationals who advocate for anti-Israel causes, including the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions) movement, are not permitted to visit the country.
Israel’s refusal to admit the parliamentarians sparked ire among UK government officials.
“It is unacceptable, counterproductive and deeply concerning that two British MPs on a parliamentary delegation to Israel have been detained and refused entry by the Israeli authorities,” UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said in a statement.
Although Lammy claimed that Mohammed and Yang were indeed traveling as part of an official UK delegation, he did not explain why their visit was not coordinated in advance with Israeli authorities.
“I have made clear to my counterparts in the Israeli government that this is no way to treat British parliamentarians, and we have been in contact with both MPs tonight to offer our support,” Lammy added.
