Group seeks arrest, trial for ‘flytilla’ activists

An Israeli group on Thursday called for the arrest and trial of hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists who are expected to arrive at Ben Gurion airport as part of a solidarity campaign this weekend. Between Saturday evening and Sunday, hundreds of activists, mainly from European countries, are expected to land at Israel’s main international airport as part of a campaign called “Welcome to Palestine.” The visitors are expected to openly declare their intent to visit the West Bank. But Israel has vowed to prevent them from arriving. Nitsana Darshan-Leitner of the Israel Law Centre, said she had asked Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein “to put an end” to the campaign, now in its third year. “We are asking him to put them on trial,” she told Israeli public radio. “This is criminal activity...(which is) a breach of several laws in Israel includingunauthorised assembly and crossing the border when they have been specifically told not to come here.”  In previous years activists have been held in custody pending deportation but not charged with any offence. French organisers of the planned event said on Wednesday they still plan to travel despite Israel government’s opposition.