Palestinian firefighters barred from Israeli fete

JERUSALEM - Organizers say a ceremony in honor of Palestinian firefighters who helped battle Israel’s worst wildfire had to be canceled after some of them were denied entry into Israel.

By (AP)

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Published: Tue 14 Dec 2010, 8:59 PM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 6:13 AM

The 11 men planned to attend the event in northern Israel, where the fire raged earlier this month. The event was called off when three of them were refused entry.

Ahmad Tibi, an Israeli-Arab member of parliament and one of the event’s organizers, said on Tuesday the army turned the Palestinians away on security grounds.

Tibi says the ceremony was meant to recognize the bravery of the Palestinians who “fought the flames despite the occupation.”

The Israeli military had no comment.

About 20 Palestinian firefighters joined the international effort against the blaze that killed 43 people.


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