Thread by @OmarSShakir

Israel regularly denies entry to those who challenge its policies & seek to see the occupation for themselves. But that’s not full story. Those who make it in face systematic harassment at Ben Gurion, particularly those of Arab descent. A thread on my experience today 1/14

Israel revoked my work permit in May 2018 over my rights advocacy, but court-ordered injunctions froze enforcement of deportation. I’ve only traveled since when gov permits me & guarantees my re-entry. Ahead of my Sep 24 Supreme Court appeal, I was permitted to visit family 2/14

At Ben Gurion Airport, security officials upon entry questioned me & gave me its highest security designation (denoted by #6 at beginning of barcode sticker on passport)- same designation I’ve gotten each of 15+ times I’ve flown from here 3/14

They directed me & others designated a ‘6’ to a special security line, out of sight for the majority of travelers who breeze through. Everyone in ‘6’ line with me this morning were Palestinian 4/14

Two agents put my carryon bag/backpack through scanner & took me to a separate area, where they searched every corner/pocket of my bags, wiped/scrutinized every single item in them & sent some, including my cologne bottle & laptop, for additional scanning 5/14

Agent took out my book (Virginia Tilly’s ‘Beyond Occupation: Apartheid, Colonialism & Intl Law in OPT’) & called security chief, who questioned me about my travel plans & work/life here. I caught glimpse of agent looking at book & shaking her head in apparent disapproval 6/14

Security chief took my passport & made phone calls, while another agent put me through body scanner, patted me down & scanned my shoes. I noticed an agent hand my memory stick & house keys to security chief for him to evaluate 7/14

Security chief told me scanner caught something in bag & that I couldn't take some items w me on plane including Beyond Occupation book, notebook, printed articles, pens, business cards/receipts, keys, pills, granola, toothbrush, deodorant, sunglasses, deck of playing cards 8/14

They placed items in cardboard box & said I’d receive it upon landing. I pressed him: what threat did granola, receipts & a toothbrush pose? How’s threat any different if items checked in? He told me that these were their procedures & that he couldn’t say anything more 9/14

1+ hour later, they said they finished & left me to repack my stuff, with my underwear & other personal items strewn about on table. I was left to fly wo my book, anything to write with/on & medicine I needed & worried that confiscated items would be searched more or taken 10/14

Such encounters common for me at Ben Gurion or flying Israeli airlines: been pulled over entering airport to have car inspected many times, asked if I pray/fast or consider Israel an apartheid state, strip searched, laptop/phone taken & seat on plane changed w/o explanation 11/14

My experience isn’t unique. You’ll struggle to find a Palestinian who doesn’t have similar stories. El Al agents once told friend they found explosives in his bag; they boarded him but left his suitcase behind & dumped his stuff in plastic bag that he only got upon arrival 12/14

We are of course the lucky who can fly, unlike scores Israel bans from travel/entry, 4.5 million Palestinian ID holders Israel bars from using airport (2 million of whom it cages in Gaza open-air prison) & millions of Palestinian refugees denied right of return or to visit 13/14

Constant humiliation & punitive measures necessary for Israel to sustain systematic repression & two-tiered discriminatory regime that treats Palestinians unequally compared to Jewish Israelis. Their harassment only strengthens our resolve to work to dismantle racist system 14/14