Boylan denied entry to Israel as part of EU visit

Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan has been refused permission to travel to Israel.

Boylan was planning to travel through Israel to Palestine as part of an official European Parliament delegation but was refused permission by the Israeli authorities and subsequently deported.

Boylan said the move was “an insult to all members of the EU.”

The MEP was making a trip as part of the European Parliament Delegation for relations with Palestine.

“Israel’s blocking of MEPs and senior EU officials from travelling to Palestine is an insult to all in the EU.”

“The EU is the largest donor of support to Palestine and its officials and elected representatives must be able to be on the ground in Palestine as part of this work,” she explained.

The Sinn Féin MEP said the move was “particularly insulting” as the move by the Israeli authorities took place on the same day that the EU itself held a series of talks with Israel as part of the EU-Israel association council.

On the same day those talks took place, MEPs and officials trying to travel through Israel were blocked and deported.

“The EU must respond to this disgraceful conduct by Israel,” Boylan said.

“This is not only deeply insulting to EU leaders, but poses a real issue for the diplomatic relationship between the EU and Israel.

“European leaders must send a message to Israel and make it clear that they cannot continue to act without consequences.”

Speaking in the European Parliament last year, Boylan said “the credibility of the European institutions are not worth the paper they are written on” should Europe continue to trade with Israel.

“The EU remains Israel’s largest trading partner despite the International Court Of Justice ruling,” she said, and referred back to European legislation on trade (Article 2) which states that trade is conditional on human rights.”

“Gaza has been levelled. Polio vaccination centre targeted, it has never been clearer that Article 2 has been breached and breached consistently.”