Consequently, two British Labour MPs faced a significant diplomatic incident. Specifically, Israel denied them entry at the border. Simon Opher and Peter Prinsley were traveling to the West Bank. They planned to observe medical and humanitarian work. Therefore, being denied entry to Israel halted their mission immediately.
The MPs released a joint statement expressing deep regret. They called the Israeli authorities’ decision deeply regrettable. It prevented them from witnessing grave medical challenges firsthand. The Israeli Embassy in London has not yet commented.
However, the UK Foreign Office reacted strongly. A spokesperson called the action totally unacceptable. They also found it deeply concerning. This is because it represents a recurring issue. Minister Hamish Falconer and officials maintained contact with the MPs throughout the ordeal.
The incident occurred on Monday. The MPs were crossing into Israel from Jordan. Their three-day visit was organized by the Council for Arab-British Understanding (CAABU). Israeli authorities stopped them at the border. Opher described being held in a passport office. Officials then handed them a legal form insisting they leave. They were subsequently escorted onto a bus back to Jordan.
Opher, a doctor, expressed great disappointment. He stated their purely humanitarian intentions. They aimed to assess healthcare facilities in the West Bank. Also, they wanted to see how they could support them. They had no intention to undermine Israel. Their schedule included a meeting with the British Consul General. They also planned to meet Palestinian and Israeli human rights groups.
This event is not an isolated case. Earlier this year, two other Labour MPs faced the same fate. Abtisam Mohamed and Yuan Yang were also denied entry to Israel. That visit was organized by the same group. Israeli authorities accused those MPs of promoting sanctions. They also said the MPs had made false claims about Israel.
Chris Doyle, Director of CAABU, commented on the pattern. He called the recent denials regrettable. He emphasized the importance of politicians seeing the ground situation. This allows for informed assessments and policy decisions. Ultimately, being denied entry to Israel prevents this crucial oversight. The UK government continues to clarify its position on this treatment of its parliamentarians.
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