France Surprised at Israel Holding French Peace Activists

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, August 22, 2002

France Surprised at Israel Holding French Peace Activists

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France on Wednesday said it is surprised at the decision of the Israeli authorities to hold 52 French peace activists who arrived at Tel Aviv airport on Tuesday afternoon. Israel accused them of creating provocation and disturbing the Israeli army's anti-terrorist operations.

"We have pointed out to the Israeli authorities that the group went to Israel at the invitation of a member of the Knesset (the Israeli parliament)," said Francois Rivasseau, a French governmentspokesman.

"We also expressed our surprise at the decision of the Israeli authorities to hold in Tel Aviv the Air France plane that transported the French activists," he added.

Fifty-two French peace activists were barred from entering Israel and transferred on Tuesday to Nazareth,in the north of Israel, while awaiting a court decision on their appeal against deportation.

Israel accused them of creating provocation and disturbing the Israeli army's anti-terrorist operations.

"Questioning these passengers, we became convinced that they have come to hinder the work of Israel's security forces, and as aresult they were refused entry," said the Israeli Interior Ministry.

"These accusations are absurd. We are responsible people who are supposed to be here until August 26 to meet young Israelis, both Arab and Jew, as well as Palestinians to discuss peace ahead of a conference in Paris at the end of the year," a leader of the group told Agence France-Presse on Tuesday.

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