For the first time in the country's history, Israel on Monday denied entrance to a Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement (BDS) activist, citing "anti-Israel activity" as its reasoning.
Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan and Interior Minister Aryeh Deri decided to deny the entry of Malawi citizen Isabel Phiri, who arrived Monday at Ben-Gurion Airport. The African country's national was then denied a tourist visa.
According to the Interior Ministry, Phiri has worked in the past with the World Council of Churches, an organization that has been supporting the BDS movement since 2002.
...“This is actually the first time the State of Israel refuses the entry of a tourist due to a clear background of anti-Israel activity and promoting economic, cultural and academic boycotts against Israel,” the Interior Ministry said in a statement.
“Allowing entry to activists such as Phiri would effectively reinforce the prohibited activities she and her friends are promoting,” Interior Minister Aryeh Deri said in a statement, “I will use all my authority at my disposal to prevent harm to Israel."