An MP banned from entering Israel in response to the UK announcing sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, said she has no intention of visiting the country anyway.
Ellie Chowns, who represents North Herefordshire for the Greens, was one of 12 people recently barred from the country. Israel’s foreign minister Gideon Saar said the move was in response to sanctions.
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced the sanctions on Wednesday with Israel later announcing counter-measures.
Chowns told the BBC she had rejected an invite to Israel from an “international peace organisation”, due to concerns over whether she would be stopped from entering.
“I didn’t have any plans to travel there anyway, to be honest,” she said adding she had recently spoken to someone from a peace organisation.
“They invited me to go and try and visit but I felt it was highly unlikely the Israeli government would let me in.”
She continued: “We all have obligations to speak out and these are fundamental British values – defending the right of people whatever their background to live in peace and security.
“And speaking out against violent action by a government if we see it.”
