Israel Denies Entry to Two European Parliament Members Critical of Its Policies

Irish and French MEPs barred from entering Israel as EU-Israel dialogue resumes after years of tension.

• Irish MEP Lynn Boylan and French-Palestinian MEP Rima Hassan were denied entry into Israel upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport.
• Israel’s Interior Minister cited Hassan’s support for boycotts against Israel as the reason for her exclusion, while no reason was provided for Boylan’s denial.
• Both MEPs are members of the EU-Palestine delegation and have been vocal critics of Israeli actions in Gaza and the West Bank.
• The incident coincided with the EU-Israel Association Council meeting in Brussels, which resumed after a hiatus since 2022.
• The barring of the MEPs follows recent Israeli legislation restricting entry for non-citizens who support boycotts or question the legitimacy of the state.

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POLITICO Haaretz