MEPs cancel official trip to Israel & Palestine after one denied entry

A European Parliament’s delegation to Palestine was cancelled on Monday after Israel barred one of many MEPs from coming into the nation.

Far-left Spanish MEP Manu Pineda, President of the European Parliament’s Delegation for relations with Palestine, on Sunday shared a letter he had obtained from the Israeli Ministry of International Affairs during which they acknowledged that “Mr Pineda’s arrival to the State of Israel was not authorised.”

They cited “info obtained from the competent authorities in Israel” and mentioned that “the Ministry of International Affairs avails itself of this chance to resume to the Delegation of the European Union the reassurance of its highest consideration.”

Israeli authorities additionally barred the delegation from visiting the Gaza strip. 

Pineda mentioned the delegation’s mission was “cancelled”.

In line with a authorities official quoted by the Occasions of Israel newspaper, Pineda has been barred from coming into Israel since 2020 due to conferences he has held with Palestinian organisations together with Addameer and the In style Entrance for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).

Israel considers each to be terrorist outfits with the US and EU additionally designating the PFLP as a terrorist organisation.

Human rights NGOs together with Amnesty Worldwide and the UN Workplace of the Excessive Commissioner for Human Rights have nevertheless criticised the designation for Addameer.

A number of different members of the delegation have expressed outrage at Israel’s choice to disclaim Pineda entry and to bar the delegation from visiting Gaza. 

Sweden MEP Evin Incir (S&D) argued that it’s “unacceptable that the Israeli authorities management the borders of Palestine and as soon as once more deny entry to elected representatives.”

Margrete Auken, a Danish MEP (Inexperienced/ALE) described it as a “huge scandal”, including that “Israel can not determine who from the EU can journey to Palestine.”

The Socialists and Democrats Group (S&D) in the Parliament labelled Israel’s choice to bar Pineda entry “unjustified, outrageous and democratically unacceptable” and demanded that EP President Roberta Metsola, on an official go to to Israel, “fiercely protest” the transfer. 

“Enterprise as regular can’t be tolerated,” they added, additionally stressing that “Israeli authorities can not dictate which Members are or are usually not allowed to go to Palestine.”

Metsola said in a tweet that she regretted the choice and that she is going to “increase the difficulty straight with authorities involved”.

“Respect for MEPs and the European Parliament is crucial for good relations,” she added.