Israel denies entry of BDS activist

Israeli authorities denied the entry of a Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) activist into Israel at the Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv on Monday.

Israeli media say this is the first time Israel Israel officially denies entry to a foreign national who supports the movement for Palestinian rights.

Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that activist Isabel Phiri, a Malawi national, landed at the airport on Monday afternoon, but was denied entry as a tourist “on the basis of her activism for the World Council of Churches (WCC) group which supports the BDS movement.”

The decision involved officials higher up than just airport security officials, according to Haaretz, who said the final decision was made by Israeli Interior Minister Aryeh Deri “following consultations with Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan.”