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Ship to Gaza Swedes denied entry to Israel

Published: 8 Nov 10 07:48 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/30078/20101108/

Israel expelled a Swedish MP of Turkish origin who had been on a Gaza-bound aid ship intercepted in May by Israeli commandos, the interior ministry announced on Sunday.

Green Party MP Mehmet Kaplan was ordered to leave minutes after his plane landed in Israel because he had "failed to follow procedure" and obtain an entry visa in Sweden, ministry spokeswoman Sabine Hadad told AFP.

Dror Feiler, an Israeli artist based in Sweden who has relinquished his Israeli citizenship, was also expelled upon arrival at Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv, Hadad said.

The pair had been detained after Israeli commandos on May 31st intercepted an aid flotilla bound for the blockaded Gaza Strip and nine Turkish activists were killed when commandos raided the flagship, the ferry Mavi Marmara.

Passengers detained in the raid on the flotilla were later released after signing a letter "in which they pledged to obtain authorisation to enter Israel from Israeli embassies in their respective countries," Hadad said.

"They [Kaplan and Feiler] were perfectly aware of these dispositions, but they did not respect them," she said, explaining why the pair were barred from entering Israel on Sunday.

Northern Irish Nobel peace laureate and activist Mairead Maguire was deported from Israel in June because she had also tried to reach Gaza by boat in defiance of Israel's naval blockade.

In October, the Israeli supreme court rejected Maguire's appeal against a court decision ordering her deportation.

She was one of 19 activists on board the Irish-owned "Rachel Corrie," which tried and failed to reach the Gaza enclave in early June.

Corrie was an American member of the International Solidarity Movement who was crushed to death in the Gaza Strip in 2003 by an Israel Defence Forces bulldozer while acting as a human shield in front of a local Palestinian's home in an attempt to prevent its demolition by IDF forces.

AFP/The Local (news@thelocal.se)

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07:59 November 8, 2010 by crofab
Comment removed by The Local for breach of our terms.
08:12 November 8, 2010 by ericrufinosiah
Mehmet Kaplan don't try to create a diplomatic row with Isreal

with your actions,lucky you are plane landed in Isreal and I

wonder if your plane landed in Iran.?As for Dror Feil,you had

relinquished your Isreali citizenship and don't test your luck

as it maybe not good the next time and you are also lucky as

the Isrealis were still resonable with you and if you are in

Iran,you'l be arrested as a spy.
08:24 November 8, 2010 by Nemesis
It is unfortunate Mairead Maguire was deported from Israel. That means the Irish have to put up with her.

Most of these people are attention seeking idiots.
08:37 November 8, 2010 by crofab
Attention NEEDS to be sought for the issue of this illegal and unjust occupation and blockade by Israel. I say more power to them (Kaplan and Feiler)!
08:56 November 8, 2010 by ericrufinosiah
Mehmet Kaplan,instead of going to Isreal,why not you also take a trip to Turkey and help to negotiate a peaceful

settlement between the Kurdish People and Turkey.?If you are

successful in bringing an honourable peace to The Kurds then

perhaps the Isrealis would then roll out a red carpet for you,the next time.
10:27 November 8, 2010 by Iraniboy
When you are not allowed to go to Gaza through international waters and your're slaughtered instead, how do you expect to go to Israel?!!! You're lucky you are not slaughtered in Isreal!!
10:43 November 8, 2010 by sweco1
This is just the typical charade by the Israels & their comrades

Trying to make Mehmet Kaplan look like the victim when he is really the perpetrator.

They did a similar charade with Dorrit Moussaieff (Isaeli born) the wife of the President of Iceland. They Staged a event , happened to be cameras, giving her a ruff time at pass port control in Tek Aviv. I call Dorrit Moussaieff the real Queen of Terror!

So which side do they people really works for!
10:43 November 8, 2010 by asian369
Comment removed by The Local for breach of our terms.
11:10 November 8, 2010 by RobinHood
Well done Israel for dealing with this in the right way. it makes a pleasant change from shooting dead unarmed civilan protestors with Uzis, and then blackmailing the survivors into signing pointless disclaimers.

Perhaps Israel is finally learning it cannot treat the citizens of other countries with the same brutality it treats its own citizens and neighbours. Does Turkey, once Israel's only friend in the region, allow Isreali militiary flights access yet? T

Keep the pressure up, Israel is finally learning how to behave ina proper way. International politicians might soon be able to meet their Israeli counterparts without having to hold their noses and wipe their hands.
12:44 November 8, 2010 by asian123
only strong people will live and weak people will die. this is the natural principle. and israel is follwing it 100%.

i support israel in this regard otherwise death and torture will come to israel .
13:23 November 8, 2010 by Hagrid
asian369,

Please show me one credible source that Israel is "killing thousands" of civilians, and "making millions homeless". Otherwise admit that you're just talking nonsense.

However, I could easily find you examples of what you said, for countries like Turkey, Syria, Pakistan, China, Russia and even America - all of which you never bother to criticize. I guess that would make you a liar and a hypocrite.
15:15 November 8, 2010 by eZee.se
Only 10 comments?

Where are all the loonies and the people who reply back and forth with the loonies?

:-D
16:17 November 8, 2010 by Tanskalainen
The beautiful but downtrodden Danish people need to carry out Lutheran Jihad against the the evil Swedish occupiers of Skane! Intifada now!
16:40 November 8, 2010 by GefleFrequentFlyer
Funny. If random boats from Iran started washing up on Malmo's shores with no documentation, declaration of lading or motive, do you think the swedish authorities would allow that to happen?
17:43 November 8, 2010 by MC7669
@ Tanskalainen - I love it Yalllaa Intifada Yahaa now!!!

@ GefleFrequentFlyer - Wonderful!!!!!!!

Robinhood, I am visiting Israel for Business and meeting very smart people I could never meet in other countries....and I can tell you that I never saw that the Israel Police, Army or politicians are abusing, killing or treating brutally their own citizens or their neighbours. Once I saw how foreing medias are motivating young palstinians to light fire over soldiers waitting for their buss in a bus station in order to get home safetly.....

That is why you should first learn before you are expressing your self with wrong and brainwashed comments.....you are worng!!!
18:06 November 8, 2010 by Iraniboy
@Tanskalainen

Things have changed so much here in Scandinavia since a century ago! They don't fight for a peace of soil as you do in Israel!

@GefleFrequentFlyer

Unless Gaza and all international waters belong to Israel!!

Malmo is for Sweden no country including Iran is allowed to wander there. But Gaza is not for Israel. BESIDES the ship was not even in Gaza territory , it was in international water! You're just funny with your cheap comparison!

@MC7669

Discrimination and racism exists in Israeli laws, not just in their police behaviours. For example Arabs in Israel don't have the same right as non-Arabs. Arab Jews cannot go to the same school as others. This is 100% racism!
18:59 November 8, 2010 by Nemesis
These idiots go to Turkey which treats its minorities worse than anything the Israeli's could even imagine, yet do not complain.

Dpes all these rights activists support opporession of the Kurds?

Why do they not goto China and protest in Tibet?

Why do they not goto Uganda and protest against abuses against minorities there?

Why do they not goto Iraq and protest against attacks on minorities there?

Why do they not goto Afghanistan and protest against hwo they treat women?

Why do they not goto Saudi Arabia and protest against the executions?

Simple, Israeli's are jews.

If they were muslims, silence would be golden as when these activists goto Turkey.

I hope the Israeli government seriously takes a good look at buying some torpedo's.
19:11 November 8, 2010 by Tanskalainen
@Iraniboy The noble Danes need to leave kringles all OVER Skane! The evil Swedish occupiers will soon die from type 2 diabeties.
19:16 November 8, 2010 by Iraniboy
Nemesis,

First ,Israelis are not necessarily Jews. Second, the government of Israel is not Jewish. It is a political entity like all other countries.

None of the countries you mentioned have occupied more than 10% of their size beyond international borders.

None of them have racial laws like Arabs are not allowed in some schools or they should go through different confession for loyalty!

None of them their army doesn't blow up UN schools and it.

None of them attack others in international areas.

But yes they have many other things in common like brutality and killing of innocent people in particular the minority! But as long as they are US ally like Saudi Arabia, it's ok!!!

What is so surprising is how a person can have such low moral values to participate in Israeli Army. There was a person who was speculating about that the other day!! This is your choice and you're free. But get ready to kill kids!
19:37 November 8, 2010 by Elias06
Israel has been torturating and kicking out palestinians from their lands for 60 years under the eyes of all international organisations, they have the power they have the money they control all the important lobbies, i dont understand why people are still making debats about the situation there, palestinians and pro-palestinians should accept the situation and look for the only possible solution : leave the territories that Israel still wants, and accept the idea of a small country in the worst part of the area.

unfortunatly thats the only solution and time will prove that, hassan 2 the king of morocco in the seventies told the palestinians that they should accept the plan israel sugested back then, all arab leaders made a scandal of his suggestion, today palestinians are hoping for 20% of what Israel was offering at that period...

its difficult to admit but thats their luck, the chosen nation has the power
19:57 November 8, 2010 by Tanskalainen
Give Karelia back to the Finns!
20:27 November 8, 2010 by EuropeanIsraeli
@Iraniboy

We are defending ourselves. Arabs and Muslims don't wanna live in peace with us and they always attack us. We will do anything to keep our land and our heritage. Or do you want Jews and Israelis go back to Europe to be burned in Germany while Swedes stay neutral and silent and doing nothing...
20:29 November 8, 2010 by Nemesis
Give Northern Sweden back to the Sami.

Give Scotland back to the Scottish.

Give North American back to the American indians.

I could continue, but you get the idea.

I keep wondering why people keep concentrating on Israel.
20:33 November 8, 2010 by Tanskalainen
@Nemesis Because oil talks and the muzzies have it.
20:49 November 8, 2010 by diegoveggie
these losers have nothing better to do. with that money, they can help feed the hungry, fight for democracy or what the heck, buy a nice dinner.

what is their point? i don't hear them speaking out against hamas' attack on the gay community, free press, etc.
21:48 November 8, 2010 by wawi
IRANIBOY, either you are a liar or terribly ignorant.

You stated that Arabs do not have the same rights as the Jews.

Prove it.

You cannot, due to it not being true.

You also stated that "Arab Jews cannot go to the same schools as others."

I understand that you have taken this from the incident in which a relgious school did not want Spharadi children attending school with their Ashkenazi children. This was disgusting, and is certainly not common.

As for Israeli schools, this is simply not true. My children happen to be what you call Arab Jews, my wife's family being of Morroccon origins. This is simply not an issue. My son attends school with what you call "Jewish Arabs", Ethipians, Yemenites, Russians, Arabs and a Swede or two.

but I know where you get your news from, and yes this can be an excuse for your ignorance, but it is no excuse for your racism, or blind Hatred.
22:20 November 8, 2010 by MC7669
Iraniboy

in my last visit in Israel my host (Israeli Jewish religios) did everything he could to help me to visit Beth lechem....suprise I as a tourist could get in but he as a Israeli Jewish he could not get in because it was too dangerus for him to get in. I couldn't understand....when the Arab Taxi drive pick me up on the Beth Lechem side I asked him why Israelis can't go in and Arab could go out and traveling to Jerusalem he said it is too dangerous for Israeli jewish they risk their life!!!

Most of the Israeli Arab citizen don't pay Taxes to the Israeli authorities....

All Israelis Arabs and Palestinians from the Palestinian authority teritories are allowed to get free services in all Hospitals in all the countries, no Israelis can get into Palestinian teritories because their life will be in high risk.

Yes there is check point monotoring people to prevent terrorists to get in to the Israelis cityes to prevent sucide bomber it to shoping malls and what for "for the occupation" to you believe this story!

any country in the world would tolerant this kind of primitive and barbaric acts....

what are you talking about!!!? you must be a naive person braindwashed by some radicals primitives ....wake up young guy!
03:03 November 9, 2010 by GefleFrequentFlyer
@Iraniboy

Ok, how about Aland for example. Imagine if random boats from some unfriendly source showed up carrying who knows what. Sweden and Finland would take interest.

The fact is, Gaza is a conduit for hamas/hezbollah attacks on Israel. It's in Israel's security interest, and rightfully so. Read: Incirlik Air Base and the Cuban Missile Crisis.
00:10 November 10, 2010 by Cornelius Hamelberg
Since,

Feiler has "relinquished his Israeli citizenship", so why another publicity stunt? How does it serve his cause?

What does Snow White and the seven dwarfs, think about this:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3981882,00.html
21:32 November 10, 2010 by haya212
i cant believe how some of you are still defending israel as if palestine was originally thier land ! and i cant believe how you still dont get that thousands of palestinians are being killed every year and thousands are kicked out of thier homes because simly israel wants to build new homes for the jews they are bringing from europe! israel is paying those people a whole lot of money just to come and live in the stolen land ! they give them homes, jobs, bank accounts, free education and health system and many more just to make those people from europe who dont belong and know nothing about israel or palestine to live here ! just to increase thier number of people more and more everyday , just to make excuses to build more setelments and steal more land !! and whats worse is that there is still people who believe and support israel !
02:48 November 11, 2010 by frosti
Don't bother arguing with them. The only standard that Muslims have for truth and objectivity is whether or not they think something makes Islam looks good. Tht's it. Period. They rejected objective truth, the scientific method, and most of our other standards for intellectual rigor in the middle ages, and the results are obvious. Not only that, but most of them have no idea of what they're talking about anyway. In my experience very few Muslims have ever even made any attempt to study the issues they are arguing about. They simply see something on TV or the news (in addition to often having been brainwashed at Islamist daycare centers and preschools with children's TV shows that teach them to hate Jews and kill the unbeliever) and then they go around screaming and yelling about things when they don't even know what they're talking about. Notable comments I've received in attempts to "debate" with Muslims: "The al-Aqsa shrine is Islam's holiest site!" "Jerusalem is mentioned hundreds of times in the Koran!" "Who cares about Nobel prizes?". And these were the supposedly educated ones. It can be so frustrating ... you sit there and try to make an objective point, and build up your arguments, and draw analogies and examples from the real world, and you suddenly realize that they're just making everything up and deliberately lying to you.

Recent studies in neurology have shown that when people learn things, the process trains a certain set of neurons and lets others die off. Therefore, when you tell them something that contradicts their knowledge, it's not that they don't believe it, it's more that they literally can't even hear it, because the neuronal networks needed to support that information were never developed. This is why brainwashing works so well, and why it is impossible to have any kind of dialogue or debate with Muslims.
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