CPTnet
September 4, 2002
CHICAGO/TORONTO: Unger denied entry into Israel

On August 30 the Israeli authorities denied entry to CPTer Kurtis Unger,
of Winnipeg,MB, at Ben Gurion airport.

After Unger told the airport personnel that he would be going to Hebron for
"peacekeeping" work, they sent him to another line outside an office. A
woman in civilian clothing inside the office asked him why he wanted to go
to the West Bank, and he emphasized the peace and reconciliation work that
CPT does there.

The woman, after leafing through a binder and not finding what she was
looking for, said Unger would not be allowed to enter the country because
he needed a volunteer visa, not a tourist visa.

Airport personnel then searched Unger's bags and told him he was allowed to
make one phone call to his embassy. The representative at the Canadian
embassy did not sound Canadian, according to Unger, and told him that
Israel had the right to deny entry to whomever they chose.

Unger remained in the locked room for the next forty-eight hours, as other
people came and went with their luggage. At one point there were eight
people who had been denied entry in the 11x13 foot room.

On the third morning, the authorities woke Unger at 4:00 am and told him he
was leaving the country. They took him to the counter to check his luggage
and then drove him in a police car directly to the plane.

Unger was the second CPTer to whom Israeli authorities denied entry this
summer. On June 23, they sent Michael Goode back to the United
States. Neither Goode nor Unger had ever been arrested or detained by
Israeli police during previous visits to Hebron.