Some 100
pro-Palestinian activists, mostly from Europe, will seek entry into Israel from
Jordan via the Allenby Bridge on Sunday.
It is the third Welcome to
Palestine initiative in which activists protest Israel’s policy of banning
visitors it believes could cause public disorder.
Pro-Palestinian
protesters believe that Israel applies the ban too broadly to include political
ideology. The activists said they want to spend a week in the West Bank engaged
in peaceful activities. Upon arrival at the bridge they plan to tell Israeli
officials that they have come to visit Palestine.
In July 2011 and again
in April 2012, activists from the Welcome to Palestine initiative held a protest
to highlight that issue, in which activists – mostly from Europe – flew into
Ben-Gurion Airport on the same day.
When Israel complained that it was an
inappropriate venue, they shifted to the Allenby Bridge.