An Irish MEP who was refused entry to Israel and the West Bank has written to Ireland’s EU Commissioner to express “serious questions” about a data privacy arrangement with Israel.
Dublin MEP Lynn Boylan also asked Michael McGrath – who is European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, Rule of Law and Consumer Protection – to support efforts to reorganise the trip.
On Monday, Ms Boylan, French MEP Rima Hassan and two senior civil servants were detained at the door of their plane after it landed at Ben Gurion Airport, near Tel Aviv.
The delegation, on an official mission to Palestine, had planned to stay in East Jerusalem until Thursday evening.
Lynn Boylan asked Ireland’s EU Commissioner Michael McGrath, pictured, to support efforts to reorganise the trip (Brian Lawless/PA)
The four EU representatives were detained and questioned for more than an hour before being deported, Ms Boylan said.
She also said their bags were searched and their phones, tablet devices, and passports were taken from them.
Their diplomatic passports were returned to them in Brussels.
Ms Boylan, who is chair of the European Parliament’s delegation for relations with Palestine, said her work phone, which was confiscated by Israeli authorities, was now being examined for interference.
In a letter to Ireland’s EU Commissioner Mr McGrath, Ms Boylan said that the incident raised “further serious questions” around an arrangement with Israel in relation to EU data privacy rules.
She said she reiterated issues raised with Mr McGrath upon his appointment, where she said there were “significant concerns” that EU citizens whose data was processed in Israel would not have their rights upheld under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
“While detained by the Israeli authorities, all electronic devices held by members and staff of the delegation were confiscated for over 90 minutes,” Ms Boylan said in a letter sent to the commissioner on Tuesday.
“Israel is one of only two countries in the world – the other being China – where the European Parliament’s IT security services recommend not bringing personal devices.
“The phone provided to me by the parliament for this mission is now being examined for possible interference.
“I am raising this with you as I think it raises further serious questions regarding the adequacy agreement which Israel enjoys under Article 45 of the GDPR.
“I would ask how can European citizens’ data be deemed safe with Israel but not for officials of the European Parliament?
“I believe this further demonstrates the need for a suspension of the current adequacy agreement.”
She added: “Furthermore, in your role as commissioner responsible for democracy, I would ask that you support our efforts to reorganise this mission as I am sure that you agree that parliamentary diplomacy and dialogue has never been more needed than at this moment.”
Mr McGrath’s office has been contacted for comment.
The Israeli government said in a statement that people who had called for or taken part in a boycott of Israel would not be allowed entry.