Israel denies entry to 23-member int'l delegation heading to conference in Judea and Samaria

An international delegation of 23 representatives, including British lawmakers, was denied entry to the Judea and Samaria (West Bank) on Monday while attempting to attend a conference in Ramallah opposing Israeli rule over the territory as reported by the Times of Israel.

The group was scheduled to participate in the Second Ramallah Congress, organized by Progressive International and Birzeit University, which includes meetings with Palestinian academics and civil society organizations.

Labour MP Sam Tarry told the UK’s Guardian newspaper that the delegation, representing France, Spain, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Greece, the Netherlands, Ireland and the United States, was stopped at the Allenby Border Crossing and detained for nine hours.

Amid growing international scrutiny over clashes between Israeli settlers and Palestinians in Judea and Samaria, Tarry said he believed the denial was politically motivated ahead of the Israeli elections, which began at 7 a.m. today.