Who is Rima Hassan and Why Was She Sent Back to Belgium Upon Landing at Ben Gurion Airport?
European Parliament member Rima Hassan was turned away upon landing at Ben Gurion Airport. Here's why.
A European Parliament member named Rima Hassan arrived in Israel yesterday (Tuesday) to meet with senior Palestinian Authority officials, but her entry into the country was denied due to her pro-Palestinian views.
Hassan, who traveled aboard 'Brussels Airlines,' was required to return just as she had come after a brief investigation revealed quite bleak information: not only does she belong to a party that refused to condemn the massacre of October 7th (the party is named Unbowed France), but Hassan 'went further' by justifying the massacre and calling it 'legitimate.' Hassan also organized initiatives calling for a boycott of the State of Israel and encouraged sanctions against Israeli companies.
Upon learning that Hassan was on her way to the country, following the recommendation of the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, Interior Minister Moshe Arbel stated in a notice that "her entry into the country will be refused because she consistently works to promote boycotts against Israel, in addition to numerous public statements both on social media and in media interviews."
The statement was joined by Minister of Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli, who said, "Israel will not grant a platform or legitimacy to those who act against it. We will use all the tools at our disposal to prevent the exploitation of our democracy for anti-Israeli purposes. Israel's sovereignty is not to be taken lightly, and we will defend it resolutely."
