PHA-Exchange> doctors denied entry in Israel

[Bert De Belder]

Two Belgian doctors are denied entry by Israel for a medical fact-finding mission in Palestine.

.and put on return flight to Brussels

 

Upon arrival last night at 11:45 p.m. at the Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv, Dr. Sofie Blancke, a general practitioner (Medical Aid for the Third World/Medical Team), and Prof. Dr. Guido Vanham, internist (CODIP, Doctors for Peace and Flemish Palestine Committee) were held and put immediately on the first return flight to Brussels.

 

Together with the Dutch doctors Tariq Shadid and Henri Van de Vall and Ms. Gretta Duisenberg, the wife of the European Central Bank's president, they make part of the Medical Fact-Finding Mission Palestina. This mission, supported by the Action Platform Palestine, intends to investigate the health situation in the Occupied Territories from June 23 to 28.

 

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs justifies the expulsion of the doctors saying that they wanted to enter Israel for political instead of medical reasons. Also the Dutch doctors would be denied entry while Ms. Duisenberg, on the other hand, would be admitted.

 

When investigation into the health situation in Palestine is forbidden, we can only fear the worst for the Palestinian people. Let this incident heighten our commitment to the struggle for the Palestinian people's rights!

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