Ministers Approve Barring BDS Activists’ Entry into Israel

(JNi.media) The Ministerial Committee on Legislation on Monday approved a bill by MK Yinon Magal to prevent the entry of anti-Israel boycott activists into the Jewish state. The bill amends the 1952 Entry into Israel Law, which regulates entry into the country of persons who are not citizens of Israel or immigrants, and the arrangement for their stay in the country.

Under the new bill, persons active in or are members in NGOs promoting boycotting Israel will not be allowed to enter Israeli territory, for work or tourism.

In the coming weeks the bill will be presented to the Knesset for first out of readings on its way to becoming law.

MK Magal said in a statement, “The bill is self explanatory. It is inconceivable that a person trying to harm the State of Israel could enter it freely. Whoever calls for a boycott of Israel is using terrorism in no uncertain terms, and it is inconceivable that they be allowed to walk around the country unhindered.”

Since its approval, in 1952, the law has been amended 23 times, 17 of which amendments have been made since 2000, mainly to regulate the entry and stay of foreign workers.

In June 2015, a leaked government report stated that the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign could potentially cost Israel’s economy $1.4 billion a year.