THE case of Andrew Murray, the Palestine campaigner deported and banned from Israel, “raises grave concerns about the relationship between the UK and Israel”.
These are not our words, but the words of Carol Monaghan MP, who personally intervened to expedite Murray’s release from a detention centre in Tel Aviv and his return to his family in Scotland.
Without Monaghan, Murray believes he would still be “languishing” in that cell after Israeli authorities accused him of being an enemy of their state.
Yet Murray - to his knowledge - has not been accused, let alone convicted, of any crime.
Discussing her role in the incident, Monaghan said it seems “incredible” that a country on good terms with the UK could treat a British citizen in such a way.
Perhaps it would be less incredible if we were able to tell the other side of the story, to explain why Israel took the action it did, checking Murray for explosives and banning him from entering “Greater Israel” for a decade.
But despite calls from The National, the Israeli Embassy in London declined to give us such an explanation.
It is worrying indeed when a government is unwilling to explain its actions and it is regrettable that we were forced to go to press without that information.
In a call with embassy staff, we emphasised our willingness to give Israeli authorities the opportunity to set out their position.
The experience has left Murray bruised, but not battered and he will continue to convene the SNP Friends of Palestine group which includes more than 30 MPs.
The incident also demands the answer to many questions, not least about how many other UK citizens have received such treatment.
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