This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/dec/06/isabel-phiri-israel-refuses-visa-theologian-bds-boycott
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Israel refuses visa to theologian over boycott and divestment activism | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Israel has denied entry to a prominent African theologian and academic for her alleged activism in the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement – the first time officials say a foreign national has been refused entry for that reason. | Israel has denied entry to a prominent African theologian and academic for her alleged activism in the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement – the first time officials say a foreign national has been refused entry for that reason. |
| Isabel Phiri, who is an assistant general secretary with the World Council of Churches in Geneva, and Malawian by birth, was refused a visa at Israel’s Ben Gurion airport on Monday afternoon. | Isabel Phiri, who is an assistant general secretary with the World Council of Churches in Geneva, and Malawian by birth, was refused a visa at Israel’s Ben Gurion airport on Monday afternoon. |
| While pro-Palestinian foreign activists are often turned away by Israel, officials said it was the first time a foreign national had been refused entry specifically for pro-BDS activities. | While pro-Palestinian foreign activists are often turned away by Israel, officials said it was the first time a foreign national had been refused entry specifically for pro-BDS activities. |
| Israel’s interior minister, Aryeh Dery, said he had decided against issuing the visa after consultation with the public security minister, Gilad Erdan, who is also in charge of countering anti-Israel boycotts. | Israel’s interior minister, Aryeh Dery, said he had decided against issuing the visa after consultation with the public security minister, Gilad Erdan, who is also in charge of countering anti-Israel boycotts. |
| In a statement to media, Dery said: “Granting an entry permit to activists such as Phiri would in effect reinforce the wrongful activities she and her peers are advancing and I have no intention of lending a hand to that. I will use any authority at my disposal to avert harm to Israel.” | In a statement to media, Dery said: “Granting an entry permit to activists such as Phiri would in effect reinforce the wrongful activities she and her peers are advancing and I have no intention of lending a hand to that. I will use any authority at my disposal to avert harm to Israel.” |
| Erdan said: “The place of the boycotters is outside the country’s borders and we shall continue to do everything possible to prevent them from entering our country.” | Erdan said: “The place of the boycotters is outside the country’s borders and we shall continue to do everything possible to prevent them from entering our country.” |
| The decision to refuse entry to Phiri is likely to be controversial because of her profile. A theologian and academic, before joining the WCC Phiri was a professor of African theology, and head of the school of religion, philosophy and classics at the University of KwaZulu Natal in South Africa. | The decision to refuse entry to Phiri is likely to be controversial because of her profile. A theologian and academic, before joining the WCC Phiri was a professor of African theology, and head of the school of religion, philosophy and classics at the University of KwaZulu Natal in South Africa. |
| The WCC represents churches, denominations and church fellowships in more than 110 countries, and claims to represent more than 500 million Christians and including most of the world’s Orthodox churches, scores of Anglican, Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist and Reformed churches, as well as many United and independent churches. | The WCC represents churches, denominations and church fellowships in more than 110 countries, and claims to represent more than 500 million Christians and including most of the world’s Orthodox churches, scores of Anglican, Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist and Reformed churches, as well as many United and independent churches. |
| Justifying the refusal of Phiri’s visa, Israeli ministers cited pro-Palestinian activities of the WCC which include its accompaniment programme. This programme recruits observers to Palestinian towns and villages and is aimed at offering a “protective presence to vulnerable communities” and monitoring and reporting rights abuses. | Justifying the refusal of Phiri’s visa, Israeli ministers cited pro-Palestinian activities of the WCC which include its accompaniment programme. This programme recruits observers to Palestinian towns and villages and is aimed at offering a “protective presence to vulnerable communities” and monitoring and reporting rights abuses. |
| Under the scheme, the WCC has brought some 1,500 volunteers to Israel for the accompaniment programme. | Under the scheme, the WCC has brought some 1,500 volunteers to Israel for the accompaniment programme. |
| A bill to prevent foreign supporters of the BDS movement from entering Israel is currently going through the Knesset, although ministers have the right to deny individuals entry on a case by case basis. | A bill to prevent foreign supporters of the BDS movement from entering Israel is currently going through the Knesset, although ministers have the right to deny individuals entry on a case by case basis. |
| In a sign of the increasing pressure on BDS supporters both foreign and otherwise, Israel this year refused permission to one of the movements co-founders, Omar Barghouti, who is married to an Israeli citizen of Palestinian origin, to travel out of the country for a speaking tour. | In a sign of the increasing pressure on BDS supporters both foreign and otherwise, Israel this year refused permission to one of the movements co-founders, Omar Barghouti, who is married to an Israeli citizen of Palestinian origin, to travel out of the country for a speaking tour. |
| The issues of BDS – a Palestinian grassroots initiative with growing international support – have become significant for Israel’s hard-right coalition as prominent companies including Veolia, Orange – and most recently the British-based security firm G4S – have downscaled operations in Israel after public campaigns. | The issues of BDS – a Palestinian grassroots initiative with growing international support – have become significant for Israel’s hard-right coalition as prominent companies including Veolia, Orange – and most recently the British-based security firm G4S – have downscaled operations in Israel after public campaigns. |