TWO MPs were confronted by armed Israeli settlers when visiting during a six-day visit to the occupied Palestinian territories, it has been reported.
Shockat Adam, an independent MP for Leicester South, and Andrew George, Liberal Democrat MP for St Ives, toured Hebron, Bethlehem and East Jerusalem, three areas recognised under international law and by the UK Government as being Palestinian territory under Israeli occupation.
In a joint statement on Friday said George, who has repeatedly condemned Israel's 18-month assault on Gaza, was stopped by Israeli border officials when they first arrived in the country on April 13.
“George was questioned and taken aside and prevented from entering Israel for 45 minutes, before eventually being permitted entry, following communications with the British Embassy in Tel Aviv and the British Consulate in Jerusalem,” the delegation said.
Earlier in April, Labour MPs Abtisam Mohamed and Yuan Yang were refused entry by Israeli authorities to the occupied Palestinian territories on the grounds that they intended to “spread hate speech”.
The two Labour MPs later hit out at the Israeli authorities' decision, saying the country's actions were "about control and censorship", not "security".
It has been reported that during their trip, Adam and George witnessed Israeli settlers attacking Palestinians when they visited Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron in the southern West Bank.
Armed settlers and security forces also reportedly confronted the two MPs when they were speaking with local Palestinians and how Bedouin farmers have been denied access to their land.
According to the Middle East Eye (MEE) the settlers and security forces only backed off when they found out the pair were UK parliamentarians.
The news outlet also reported that security forces raised assault rifles at the delegation's vehicle when they attempted to pass a checkpoint in Hebron.
Members of the delegation also told MEE that during a visit to Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem, they witnessed hundreds of Israeli settlers enter the mosque's courtyards to pray.
For decades, Israel has prohibited Jewish prayer at Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is seen as one of the holiest sites in Islam.
However, ultranationalist settlers and several members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government oppose this stance and have reportedly increased Jewish prayer at the holy site.
Members of the delegation told MEE they witnessed Israeli settler groups enter the mosque under police protection.
It has been reported that more than 6000 Israeli settlers have entered the courtyards to pray, in defiance of a fragile status quo governing worship and visits to the site.
