Distinction in travel journalism
Is independent travel journalism important to you?
Click here to keep it independent

1 Oct, 2011

Australian activists put Palestine travel ban on trial – The Electronic Intifada

They had no trouble boarding an Aegean Air flight from Athens which arrived at Ben Gurion Airport at 4:30am on Monday, 11 July. “I think we took them totally by surprise,” says Hale. “When they said, ‘What is the purpose of your visit to Israel?’ And we said ‘We don’t want to visit Israel, we want to go to Palestine,’ the border official’s jaw dropped. There was absolute consternation.” As they were led to the holding area at the airport, both women called out, “We want to go to Palestine – Free Gaza! Free Palestine!”

Like other participants in Welcome to Palestine, Hale and Porzsolt were held at Ben Gurion airport, separated from their belongings and denied pens and paper, although they were permitted reading materials. “Then we were taken to have a shower in an area used for children,” says Hale. “There were crayons there, which we managed to use to keep a detailed record of times and dates.”

via Australian activists put Palestine travel ban on trial | The Electronic Intifada.