No ‘legitimate reason’ given for expulsion of four Irish from Israel

The deportation of four Irish people from Israel earlier this month may be part of efforts to “suppress scrutiny and criticism of Israeli policies in the West Bank”, Minister of State Helen McEntee has said.

Ms McEntee said the reasons given on the deportation orders “do not tell us anything” and it did not appear there was any “legitimate reason” to exclude them.

Without a “more specific explanation” from the Israeli authorities as to why Elaine Daly, Fidelma Bonass, Joan Nolan and Stephen McCloskey were expelled, it was difficult not to conclude that that was the reason, she said.

Ms Daly has led study groups to the West Bank for more than 10 years involving a total of 17 tour groups.

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The remaining 33 members of the group were admitted for the week-long trip to the West Bank.

She is a sister of Independents4Change TD Clare Daly, who raised the issue in the Dáil and asked what the Government was going to do about the matter.

The Minister said the Israelis only gave a “generic explanation that it was for immigration reasons and in the case of the group leader Ms Daly, because of unspecified public security, public safety or public order considerations”.

Explanation sought

Ms McEntee said no allegations or report had ever been made to the Department of Foreign Affairs of any legitimate concerns about the activities of these study groups that could form a legitimate basis for exclusion.

The Irish Ambassador in Tel Aviv had requested an explanation from the Israeli foreign minister. “We are awaiting a response and I will ensure that the deputy and the persons concerned are notified when we hear more,” Ms McEntee said.

Ms Daly said her sister “is nonpolitical and has never been involved in any political party, although that would not be a reason to exclude her and has never attended any protest.

“She is the only Irish person to have been honoured with an honorary citizenship of Bethlehem for her work, which involves inviting people to go to the West Bank to see what goes on there and to meet Israelis and Palestinians.”