Israel bans entry of 20 groups supporting sanctions against Israel

JERUSALEM, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Israel on Sunday blacklisted 20 international organizations supporting sanctions against Israel, denying the entry of their members to Israel.

"We have switched from defense to offense. The boycott organizations need to know that the State of Israel will take actions to stop them and prevent their representatives from entering the country to harm its citizens," said Gilad Erdan, minister of public security and strategic affairs, in a statement.

Erdan said the blacklisted groups had consistently acted against Israel by exerting pressures on international groups, institutions and states to boycott Israel.

"The groups carried out activities via a campaign of falsehood and incitement, aiming at undermining Israel's legitimacy around the world," he said.

Among the 20 groups, 11 are from Europe, six from the United States, one from Latin America, one from South Africa, and one is an international umbrella organization.

Six U.S. groups, including the Code Pink, the American Friends Service Committee, which was awarded the 1947 Nobel Peace Prize for assisting and rescuing victims of the Nazis, and the left-wing organization Jewish Voice for Peace are included in the list, the Israeli daily Haaretz reported.

"The list is another step forward in our battle against the incitement and lies of those organizations who support sanctions and boycott against our country," said Erdan.

Israeli Interior Minister Arye Dery, who is responsible for implementing the list, slammed these groups for "trying to exploit the law and our hospitality to act against Israel and to defame the country."

"I will act against this by every means," the minister said. Enditem