Manuel Pineda, a Spanish left-wing politician from the United Left coalition who is a member of the European Parliament (MEP) and the head of the EU-Palestine relations delegation, has been barred from entering Israel.
Pineda declared on Twitter that the mission he was supposed to conduct on Monday to assess the Palestinian situation had been canceled. He also conveyed the Israeli Foreign Ministry’s statement of rejection.
According to the statement, the ministry has decided “not to authorize the entrance” of Pineda in Israel based on “information obtained from the relevant authorities in Israel.” Pineda accused Israel of “obstructing the European Parliament’s functioning.”
“The mission was scheduled to meet with Palestinian officials and civil society to examine the repercussions of the occupation on the daily lives of Palestinians on the ground, as well as the effects of EU cooperation programs,” Pineda added.
Pineda’s refusal to enter Israel was also criticized by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola. “I will raise the problem with the appropriate authorities.” On Twitter, Metsola stated, “Respect for MEPs and the European Parliament is crucial for healthy cooperation.”
