Police preparing for pro-Palestinian ‘flytilla’

Israel is preparing for the arrival of hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters who are expected to disrupt operations at Ben-Gurion Airport on Sunday. The authorities are readying holding cells at the airport and asking European countries to prevent the protesters from taking off.

So-called “flytilla” activists are expected to head to Israel from the US, Canada, and numerous European countries. Israel Police have the names of 250 people expected to try to make the journey.

While the protesters are expected to arrive on Sunday, some may begin arriving as early as this weekend.

Security services and police are responding to the possibility of disturbances at the airport, similar to those that occurred last July, with an increased presence and cooperation with foreign airlines.

Interior Minister Yitzhak Aharanovitch was quoted on Channel 2 News on Monday night as saying that the idea is to prevent many of the protesters from getting on planes, in reference to both El Al flights to Israel and those of other carriers. He said there was cooperation with foreign security services.