The Foreign Ministry has informed the European Union it will not allow EU lawmaker Manu Pineda to enter the country, sparking tensions with visiting EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola.
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In the letter to the EU and seen by Israel Hayom, the Foreign Ministry noted the Spanish communist politician's name had not appeared on the list of delegation members set to accompany Metsola on her Israel visit. The assessment, however, is that Pineda was denied entry to his anti-Israel activism.
Among EU and Israeli officials, the hope is that the visit by the head of the European Parliament, the first such visit in eight years, will lead to improved bilateral ties.
Metsola, who landed in Israel on Sunday, expressed regret that Pineda had not been allowed to travel with the delegation to Israel and said she would raise the issue in her meetings with Israeli officials.
"Respect for parliament members and the European Parliament are vital for good relations," Metsola wrote on Twitter.
Pineda serves as the chairman of the European Parliament delegation for relations with the Palestinian Authority. He is a longtime pro-Palestinian activist known for his efforts to promote a boycott of the Jewish state. While departing from Israel the last time he was in the country, Pineda received a letter informing him any future visit to the country would require Israel's authorization in advance.
The EU, for its part, said Pineda's participation in the delegation had been coordinated with Israel in advance and Jerusalem was well aware of his participation. It emphasized Pineda's visit, which coincided with Metsola's visit as a matter of coincidence, was to be carried out separately from that of the European Parliament president and would have been limited to the Palestinian territories.
Commenting on the matter, an Israeli official said, "The State of Israel, like every other sovereign country, has the right to determine who enters its gates. This is particularly true in instances concerning figures who call for the boycott of the State of Israel, as is the case with European Parliament member Manu Pineda."
"There is no room for the State of Israel to allow entry to those who encourage a boycott against it," the Israeli official said.
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