Israel: ‘Airtilla’ Blocked, One Pro-Palestinian Activist Slips Through the Cracks…

As the seemingly desperate attempts of the Gaza "Freedom Flotilla" were thwarted by Greek authorities, pro-Palestinian activists have been seeking new ways to channel their energies and draw negative attention to Israel. And if they can't do it by sea, they're going to take to the skies.

Israel succeeded Friday in blocking the arrival of many of these "airtilla" activists after circulating a blacklist of over 300 names among airlines in Europe and the U.S., however, 310 activists still managed to find their way to Ben Gurion International Airport. So far, nearly all of the activists bound for the West Bank have been detained for questioning will likely be deported, despite billing their presence as part of a peaceful "Welcome to Palestine" campaign.

Pippa Bartolotti, a British pro-Palestinian activist from the "Palestine Solidarity" campaign somehow managed to slip through the cracks, however. Amid the chaos at Ben Gurion, Bartolotti explained to Russia Today that since all of her counterparts have been detained by Israeli authorities, it is up to her to "be their voice."

Batrolotti, who believes she represents a cross-section of pro-Palestinian activists from Belgian, France and the U.K., doesn't see herself or any of the other activists as "threats." She also doesn't seem to understand why her presence, under the circumstances, is unwelcome:

"I don't know why Netanyahu wants to whip people's passions up the whole time as if we're a threat. I mean, look at me. I am British woman. I care deeply about peace and justice and a just peace for all sides."

Yet she asserts Netanyahu sees her as "a threat" to Israel's legitimacy. Bartolotti then accuses the Israeli Prime Minister of "whipping up"  Israeli and even British police into taking action against pro-Palestinian activists.

According Bartolotti, she and the other activists descended on Israel in order to "enjoy the cultural activities" of the Palestinians. We wonder which cultural activities those might be exactly.

RT provides the video: