Michel Besson, director of the ‘Andines’ Cooperative, which develops Fair Trade cooperation with Palestine, was arrested Monday morning on his arrival at the airport in Tel Aviv and was placed in the retention center.Besson is denied entry to Palestine and is awaiting deportation, according to his lawyer Gabi Laski. Laski added that if Besson decides to fight deportation he will have to wait a few weeks in jail before he can get a trial.
On her part Christine Sanguiñeda, Policy Officer Sustainable Development & International Solidarity, ‘This act endangers the work of economic development through fair trade which is developing between France and Palestine.’
On July 8, Israeli authorities deported over 150 internationals who arrived at Tel Aviv airport and declared their intention to visit Palestine, as part of the Welcome to Palestine campaign.