Brussels, 10/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - The Irish MEP Paul Murphy (GUE), who has been held in Israel for taking part in the Flotilla for Peace, is to be expelled from that country on Friday 11 November, the Israel representation office to the EU announced on Wednesday 9 November. In a press release it states that Paul Murphy MEP will be deported to Ireland on Friday 11 November 2011 after being briefly held by Israeli immigration services further to his attempt to break the blockade. It goes on to deplore the fact that the MEP was involved with political provocation, seeking to break a legal naval blockade despite the European Union's position on this. The Israeli navy boarded, on Friday 4 November, the two boats of the Flotilla to Gaza and escorted them to Israel.
On Wednesday 9 November, GUE MEPs demonstrated in front of the Israeli Embassy in Brussels against the detention of those taking part in the Flotilla. They also wrote a letter of protest to the Israeli ambassadors in their countries, a GUE spokesman, Gianfranco Battistini, said. (CG/transl.jl)