Adalah Intervenes on Behalf of Spanish Solidarity Delegation Denied Entry to Israel

On 21 February 2003, a 14-member delegation from the Spanish solidarity group Al-Quds Malaga arrived in Israel at the invitation of Ittijah: The Union of Arab Community-Based Organizations, and a representative of the Democratic Front for Peace and Equality - Hadash, a political party. Al-Quds Malaga is an organization composed of representatives from Spanish trade unions, NGOs and political parties. The purpose of the delegation's visit is to observe the situation of workers in the country, especially that of Palestinian citizens of Israel.

Upon their arrival at Ben Gurion airport, the delegation was detained for three hours and then informed that they would be denied entry to the country, pursuant to an order by the Ministry of Interior. The delegation was taken to a detention center and held in two small rooms, despite attempts by numerous parties, including the Spanish Embassy, to arrange for the delegates to stay at a hotel near the airport until matters were sorted out. The delegates did not receive any food for many hours.

Adalah Staff Attorney Abeer Baker intervened on behalf of the groups. She contacted the Ministry of Interior on the morning after the delegates arrived in the country, and asked to know the reason for refusing them entry to Israel. When no response was given to this inquiry, she informed the Ministry of Interior that Adalah intended to file a petition against the refusal of entry order in the Tel Aviv District Court. Shortly thereafter, the order was cancelled and the delegation was permitted to enter the country.

Adalah is extremely concerned by the Ministry of Interior's continued practice of denying human rights activists entry to Israel. This policy has seemingly been in effect since the Israeli army's intensive attacks on the Occupied Territories in March-April 2002; since that time, hundreds of foreign visitors have been denied entry to Israel. It is Adalah's position that the law should be changed to prevent the Ministry, which currently has very broad discretion in this area, from being able to take such actions against visitors to the country. The Ministry has frequently exercised its discretion in an arbitrary manner, and it consistently discriminates against Palestinian citizens of Israel and Arab organizations based in Israel. There should be clearly stated, objective criteria for entry to Israel, which can be easily consulted by foreign visitors prior to their arrival. Such criteria would help to prevent the often arbitrary and unreasonable practices of routine detention and refusal of entry.