Israel blocks some activists, deports others

(Menahem Kahana/ AFP/ Getty Images ) - Israeli police arrest a left-wing activist at the Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv on July 8, 2011 as a small group of protesters gathered to welcome pro-Palestinian activists who flew-in in a mass protest and to visit the West Bank.

By Samuel Sockol, Friday, July 8, 8:42 PM

(Menahem Kahana/ AFP/ Getty Images ) - Israeli police arrest left-wing activists at the Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv on July 8, 2011 as a small group of protesters gathered to welcome pro-Palestinian activists who flew-in in a mass protest and to visit the West Bank.

(Fabrice Coffrini/ AFP/ Getty Images ) - Passengers prevented from embarking on a flight to Israel wait at Geneva international airport on July 8, 2011.

(Fabrice Coffrini/ AFP/ Getty Images ) - Passengers prevented from embarking on a flight to Israel are seen at Geneva international airport on July 8, 2011. Some 50 passengers who described themselves as

By Samuel Sockol, Friday, July 8, 8:42 PM

TEL AVIV — Israel appeared to have succeeded Friday in blocking the arrival of large numbers of pro-Palestinian activists after it circulated a blacklist of more than 300 names among airlines in Europe.

Meanwhile, officials said that 310 passengers were detained for questioning at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport as part of the attempt to prevent people from traveling to the West Bank for what activists have described as a peaceful event dubbed “Welcome to Palestine.”

Sabine Haddad, a spokeswoman for the Interior Ministry, said 85 people — including Dutch, Spanish, Belgian, French, German, Bulgarian and U.S. nationals — were refused entry as “fly-in” activists and will be deported. The others were found to be regular tourists and were permitted entry.

In a letter to airlines, the Israeli Immigration Authority cited “statements by pro-Palestinian radicals” indicating their intent to arrive in Israel on commercial flights “to disrupt order and confront security forces at friction points” as grounds for its request to the airlines to refuse to allow particular individuals on Tel Aviv-bound flights.

Cynthia Beatt, 62, a British filmmaker who had planned to fly to Israel from Berlin with Lufthansa to attend the Welcome to Palestine event, said the airline called and told her that Israel would refuse her entry.

“I am a peaceful, normal person, and I am against violence of any kind,” she said by phone from Berlin. “This is ridiculous. I find it disturbing, as I have been defamed and vilified by the Israeli government. I do not know what allegations they have against me.”

Protests were held in some European airports Friday against the airlines’ decision to accede to Israel’s request. Officials in Israel expressed satisfaction at the success of efforts to intercept the activists’ arrival, but critics have said the campaign has caused unnecessary damage to the country’s image.

Sockol is a special correspondent.