A delegation featuring Scottish politicians was blocked from entering the West Bank because they were planning ‘intentional provocation for social media clout’ in areas of increased tensions.
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they → feature → tensions
SNP MP Lara Bird and Green MSP Kate Nevens were among those turned away by Israeli border officials when seeking to enter the territory.
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Bird → turn → territory
The Israel Embassy in the UK, which said last week that the group failed to co-operate and provided false information, has now provided the Mail with further details of the reasons for refusing to allow the delegation to enter.
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delegation → say → reasons
It claimed they had misrepresented their plans, with planned itineraries not matching those previously provided ahead of the trip, and raised concerns that they were planning to increase tensions with social media clips.
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they → claim → clips
Progressive International, which was in charge of the delegation, also yesterday refused to say if public money was used on the aborted trip but highlighted that those taking part will make parliamentary declarations in the usual way.
But an SNP source said the organiser covered Ms Bird’s entire trip and that no public money was used.
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money → refuse → trip
SNP MP Lara Bird was among those turned away by Israeli border officials when seeking to enter the territory
Green
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Bird → turn → territory
MSP Kate Nevens was also in the group, which came in for fierce criticism
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which → come → criticism
A spokesman for the Israel Embassy in the UK said: ‘The group which included MPs and an MSP did not coordinate their visit in advance and, upon arrival at the border, provided misleading information regarding the purpose of their visit.
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which → say → visit
‘Routine questioning by border agents revealed that their initially provided itinerary did not reflect their actual plans, which included political activities and intentional provocation for social media clout.
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which → reveal → clout
Hence the group was refused entry to Israel.
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group → refuse → Israel
‘Israel welcomes dialogue, open communication and constructive engagement.
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Israel → welcome → dialogue
However, such engagement must be based on honesty and transparency, not misrepresentation.
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engagement → base → honesty
Like any sovereign state, Israel has the right and responsibility to verify the identity, intentions and activities of individuals seeking to enter its territory, and to deny entry when there are reasonable grounds to do so.
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Israel → have → entry
‘It is therefore misleading to portray this incident as an arbitrary attempt to silence foreign politicians or prevent them from hearing different perspectives.
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It → portray → perspectives
The issue was not their political views, but the lack of transparency surrounding their visit and the discrepancies between the purpose they initially declared and the activities they intended to undertake.’
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they → surround → purpose
It is understood that the itinerary initially provided to the Israeli authorities had indicated that the group would mainly be based in the Jerusalem area but it subsequently emerged that they intended to visit areas of increased tensions, including olive farms.
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they → understand → farms
Earlier last month, New York Democratic congressional nominee Brad Lander was among those detained after working with olive harvest groups in the West Bank in what was described as a ‘calculated political stunt’.
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what → detain → stunt
Ms Bird, who was elected earlier this year to the Arbroath and Broughty Ferry seat, said on social media that she planned to ‘stand alongside Palestinians being attacked for harvesting olives on their own land’ and that the group were turned away ‘with no reason given’.
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group → elect → reason
A Progressive International spokesman said: ‘Israeli authorities prevented the delegation from bearing witness to its occupation of the West Bank.
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authorities → say → Bank
‘The claim that “Israel welcomes dialogue, open communication and constructive engagement” is laughable while it denies access to international observers to its ethnic cleansing of the West Bank and genocide in Gaza.’
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it → welcome → Gaza
Progressive International refused to confirm whether it paid all travel, accommodation and subsistence costs for those on the trip, and said that delegates will make declarations to respective parliaments in the usual way.
But after being asked about Ms Bird’s costs, an SNP official said that the entire trip was covered by Progressive International and there was no public money used.
Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton last week condemned Ms Bird and Ms Nevens for ‘political grandstanding’ and said their ‘posturing’ is ‘an insult to their constituents who expect their elected representatives to be doing their job at home’.
Reform MSP Angela Ross also condemned ‘performative grandstanding’ and ‘misplaced priorities’.
The Scottish Greens have been asked for comment.
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Greens → refuse → comment
The Aporia
