Israel Matzav

Government preparing for flytilla

The government is continuing to prepare for the arrival on Friday of hundreds of radical European activists in what's come to be known as the flytilla (or flightilla).

"In the coming days, hundreds of radical activists from throughout Europe are expected to come to Israel to create provocations and illegal demonstrations and undermine our legitimacy in our own land," Aharonovitch said, speaking at a ceremony in Nazareth to mark the division of the police's Northern District into two new districts. "I want to make it clear that as a sovereign democratic state, we won't allow them to conduct propaganda, foment unrest or hold illegal demonstrations - not at the airport and not anywhere else."

Aharonovitch said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had ordered him to deal with the aerial flotilla, and he in turn had ordered the police to make the requisite operational and intelligence preparations for "thwarting this illegal activity."

"Those hooligans who will try to break the law and disturb the peace won't be allowed to enter Israel; they will be returned to their countries of origin, in accordance with the law and international conventions," he continued. "My message is clear and unequivocal: You should know that your attempt won't succeed, and you would do well to refrain from coming here. But the State of Israel would be happy to welcome you as tourists so that you can get acquainted with its beauty and its wonderful inhabitants."

On Wednesday morning, Prime Minister Netanyahu toured the airport together with Aharonovitch and police commander Yochanan Danino.

Keeping the airport functioning as usual will be the most important goal for security officials as activists arrive, most of whom will likely be difficult to identify, Army Radio said.

One protester, speaking to Army Radio Wednesday, said that he and other protesters were planning on arriving to Ben Gurion Airport as tourists destined for the West Bank.

According to the activist, the difference between him and any other tourist visiting Israel is that he and other demonstrators will tell security officials that they plan on visiting Palestinian cities.

Netanyahu said of plans to stop the activists, "Every country has the right to prevent the entry of provacateurs and trouble-makers into its territory. That is how all countries behave and that is how Israel will act. We must prevent the disruption of normal life for Israeli citizens."

By Tuesday, Police had already completed preparations to halt a plan by some 700 pro-Palestinian activists who have purchased tickets to fly into Ben-Gurion Airport on Friday.

Police plans are based on the assumption that some activists seeking to embark on an ‘aerial flotilla’ might be able to land in Israel since their names are not on any security watch list, allowing them to evade preemptive flight bans.

“The emphasis is on keeping Ben-Gurion Airport functioning normally, and preventing extremists from creating a provocative incident that could cause disruption,” Israel Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.

Special patrol units will be at the airport from Friday to Sunday to provide assistance if needed.

Israel Radio reports (1:00 pm) that there are already tens of police officers at the airport, and that the flight from New York on Wednesday morning was checked very carefully. The information I have seen says that the main bloc of radicals will be arriving in the early and mid-afternoon on Friday.

Arutz Sheva reports that the 'activists' also plan to visit the Negev and Galilee and that they plan to make claims to be 'returning refugees.'

How I spent my summer vacation....

Labels: Ben Gurion Airport, Palestinian fly-in

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 1:22 PM