This is what democracy looks like?

This is not okay! Last week I landed in the Tel Aviv airport expecting to enter the country. But, even though I had obtained a visa in advance, two high-level government officials ordered my deportation. Internal Security Minister Gilad Erdan accused of being an “extreme boycott activist” who documents the occupation and makes soldiers look bad.

They don’t want their violence and abuse of human rights exposed. Don’t let denying me entry give them their way. Time to share even more:

• Watch and share the above video about our BDS work. 
• Join our open letter telling Israel to stop denying entry to human rights advocates
• Read and share with your friends my op-ed in the Forward
• Post the cartoon by brilliant Brazilian artist Latuff on your Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Over the past year, Israel has denied entry or tried to deport members of the Center for Constitutional Rights, Jewish Voice for Peace, Human Rights Watch and more. For decades they have been denying Palestinian refugees the right to return to their homes and lands in accordance with international law. This has got to stop!

CODEPINK’s campaigns have gotten Sodastream and Ahava to move out of the West Bank, and RE/MAX to say they will stop receiving profits from settlement properties. This is why Israel is so afraid of us. We are continuing to put pressure on Airbnb to stop listing settlement properties and imminently, we will be launching a new campaign against Israeli weapons giant Elbit for its role in death and repression in Palestine on the US-Mexico border.

There are a number of things you can do to help: Read about my experience being denied entry, sign our open letter calling on Israel to stop blacklisting human rights advocates, share the video about our BDS work; and post the cartoon at the top of this page on your Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Israel only welcomes those who either support occupation or are willing to be quiet. On June 30th, right before I was denied entry, soldiers at the Gaza fence killed 11-year-old Yaser Abu al-Naja. He was the 16th child to be killed since the Great March of Return protests began on March 30. Gross crimes like this are what must be banned, not those coming to advance freedom, justice and equality.

Towards freedom for Palestine,
Ariel and everyone at CODEPINK