American-Jewish BDS activist denied entry into Israel

Interior minister also instructs to cancel her student visa

An American Jewish female BDS activist was refused entry into Israel late Sunday night.

The Population and Immigration Authority at Ben-Gurion Airport was acting under the instruction of Strategic Affairs and Information Minister Gilad Erdan.

“The policy I have set is clear: anyone who acts consistently to boycott us will not enter the country. The rules have changed and the State of Israel will not hold back anymore against those who try to harm us,” the minister said.

The activist, Ariel Elyse Gold, is a known member of the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement and specifically active in the Code Pink group, a far-Left peace and social justice NGO.

Gold had visited Israel before, and when it became clear that she was a BDS activist, she was informed upon her departure that future visits to Israel would only be possible if she acquired a visa in advance.

On Sunday, the activist, despite having obtained a student visa before undertaking her trip, was denied entrance into the country. Gold said she came to Israel this time in order to study Judaism at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

“I am in the Tel Aviv airport getting deported. I got a visa in advance to enter the country but they are refusing to honor it and are deporting me now,” Gold wrote on Facebook, posting a picture of herself at the airport. Along with the decision to deny her entry, Interior Minister Arye Deri instructed to cancel her student visa.

“I am using my authority to prevent the entry of a woman into Israel who came to act against us and call for boycott,” Deri underlined his decision.

“The fact that this is a Jew who tried to exploit her heritage is specifically bad for our country,” he added. “Those activists must understand that... we will no longer allow people into the country who aim to harm its residents or the state.”