Moroccan MPs Not allowed in Judea and Samaria

Israel on Monday blocked two Moroccan MPs who were traveling with EU officials from entering the PA for meetings with Palestinian officials.

"The Israel authorities prevented me and my colleague Ali Salem Chekkaf from crossing into the West Bank without giving us any reason," MP Mehdi Bensaid told AFP.

"I do not understand this Israeli action, which was an insult to the Moroccan parliament and people. I denounce it."

The two MPs were part of a delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Morocco is a "partner for democracy" at the PACE Middle East sub-committee.

Bensaid and Chekkaf said they were planning to stage a sit-in at the Allenby Bridge crossing between Jordan and Israel, until the EU visit ends on Tuesday afternoon, and only then will they fly home to Morocco from Amman.

The remaining 16 members of the delegation of Council of Europe's sub-committee on the Middle East were allowed to cross the border.

The team is touring the region to prepare a report on the Middle East.

"We denounce the fact that it is the Israelis who grant visas between two sovereign territories, because Palestine, despite all the problems, has now been recognized by the United Nations," Bensaid said.

Last November, the Palestinian Liberation Organization was accorded the status of observer state at the world body.