Israel braces for activists’ arrival

JERUSALEM – Israel dispatched a beefed-up security force to its main international airport Thursday and asked foreign airlines to prevent blacklisted travelers from boarding Tel Aviv-bound flights, ahead of the anticipated arrival of hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists.

The activists, who say their mission is peaceful, have placed Israel in an awkward position: authorities seem torn between their determination to keep out people they consider hostile agitators and a sense that they may be taking the bait en route to another public relations debacle.

By Thursday evening, eight people had been blocked from boarding one flight in Paris.

No activists had arrived in Israel by 1 a.m. today and no disturbances were reported at the airport. Israeli officials said they expected most of the arrivals to begin midday today.

Israel has experienced a series of deadly run-ins with pro-Palestinian activists over the past year, both on the high seas and along the frontiers with Lebanon and Syria.

It remained unclear how many activists would be allowed into Israel on their way to the West Bank. Officials said they are not trying to prevent the activists from visiting the Palestinian area but are concerned about people with records of trouble or those who plan to participate in violent acts.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would show restraint but stressed it was a “basic right” for a country to block suspected provocateurs from entering.

Roughly 600 activists are expected to arrive over the weekend. They say they are on a weeklong mission to express solidarity with the Palestinians.