An activist from the group CODEPINK was barred from entering Israel on Monday due to ties with the BDS movement.
Ariel Gold, a Jewish American who serves as national co-director of CODEPINK—a U.S.-based, far-left anti-war group that has been involved in protesting Israel’s policies towards the Palestinians—said she had secured a student visa from the Israeli consulate in New York prior to her arrival in Israel. However, upon entering Israel she was denied entry because of her ties with the BDS movement and had her visa canceled.
“We prevented Ariel Gold, an extreme boycott activist, from entering the country,” Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan said on Twitter. “Our policy is clear: Those who campaign towards boycotting Israel and come here in order to cause harm won’t be allowed to enter the country. The rules have changed, and Israel will not show restraint towards those who try to hurt it.”
CODEPINK was among some 20 organizations that Israel named last January as being banned from entering the country due to its ties with the BDS movement.