Israelis detain leader of liberal American group

Israeli immigration authorities detained and questioned a leader of the American-based non-profit New Israel Fund on her arrival to Israel.

The agency that manages Israel’s border crossings later apologized for any “anguish” caused by the questioning at Ben Gurion Airport.

The Population and Immigration Authority that its interim director general, Amnon Shmueli, had spoken to the New Israel Fund’s president after the group’s vice president, Jennifer Gorovitz, was detained for questioning upon arrival in Israel on Wednesday, Haaretz reported.

“Shmueli made it clear that the questioning of Gorovitz was routine and that there was no intent to insult her. The director general apologized if she was caused any anguish,” the authority said.

Gorovitz reportedly was held for 90 minutes, prompting an opposition lawmaker to declare that she was being subjected to “political persecution.” NIF is an American-based nonprofit organization that funds various social justice, civil rights and left-wing groups in Israel. Right-wing groups have accused NIF of aiding Israel’s harshest critics. NIF has accused the groups of misrepresenting its work and lying about its grantees.

The questioning of Gorovitz prompted Knesset member Tamar Zandberg of the left-wing Meretz party to complain to Interior Minister Aryeh Deri.

“This is political persecution, harassment and an attempt to silence those who fight for Israeli society,” Zandberg wrote in a letter to Deri.

Gorovitz’s detention came on the same day that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sought to reprimand Belgian Ambassador to Israel Olivier Bellefor for meeting with the leaders of Breaking the Silence and B’Tselem, two Israeli NGOs that Netanyahu and his government consider anti-Israel.

“Israel views with utmost gravity Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel’s meeting today with the leaders of Breaking the Silence and B’Tselem, during his visit to Israel,” said the Prime Minister’s Office in a statement.“The government of Belgium needs to decide if it wants to change direction or continue with its anti-Israel path.”

Breaking the Silence is an NIF grantee. B’Tselem has also received funding from NIF.

In an op-ed posted at the Haaretz web site, Gurvitz detailed her detention, which left her shocked and rattled.

“Freedom of expression now comes at a cost and criticism has become tantamount to treason,” she wrote. “How did we get here? Attacks on Israeli civil society are on the rise, supported and sometimes led by the government. Violence and hate have been incited against NIF and our grantees. Legislation has been passed to marginalize those working to protect human rights. Democracies should not use political litmus tests at their airports; they shouldn’t use border control to harass, intimidate, and humiliate visitors. Misusing the security apparatus for political purposes robs everyone of the real security we need.”