Israel's security measures? Don't make me laugh
Has anyone ever heard of a supporter or benefactor of the most extremist of settlers being deported?
By Gideon Levy Tags: Israel news Shin Bet Spain Jerusalem Ben Gurion airportWho says Jewish humor has disappeared from Israel? Who says that even the state's shadowiest organizations don't enjoy occasional moments of levity, in between carrying out assassinations and foiling conspiracies? Israel's ongoing fascistization, isolation, nationalism and militarism don't make for much comic relief. So listen to what Barak Ravid reported in Haaretz on Thursday.
A Spanish clown - it sounds like the start of a joke - lands in Israel. Not just any clown, but Spain's greatest, Ivan Prado. He expected to sail through passport control - a Spanish citizen, even a clown, needs no security authorization to enter the democratic State of Israel - claim his bags of tricks and continue to Ramallah.
He had planned, this joker, to establish an international clown festival in Ramallah, of all places. It was the mistake of a lifetime, a truly mad idea. First, what use do the Palestinians have for clowns from other countries? They have quite enough of their own, thank you. Anyway, what do they have to laugh about in Ramallah?
In the blink of an eye one of the Shin Bet's finest appeared, a true guardian of Israel, to take this jester in for questioning about his links to "terror groups." Prado, silly clown that he is, refused to answer. The Shin Bet agent (a clown of lesser renown ) apparently believed he had been chosen to save the day.
To make a long story short, after six hours of waiting miserably at Ben-Gurion International Airport Prado was informed by an Interior Ministry official, "You're being expelled. Get on the first flight to Madrid, where there's room for jokers like you." With that, Prado transmogrified into a prophet of the apocalypse. After landing in Spain he began denouncing Israel to the local press, comparing the Palestinians' plight with that of the Jews in wartime Poland. Just what we need, more Polish jokes.
The Israeli embassy in Madrid sent an urgent communique to Jerusalem: asking "What did you do?" The Foreign Ministry replied curtly, "security reasons." Rage spread through the embassy, which sought a more substantive response with which to counter questions from the Spanish media, sure that a clown's deportation for "security reasons" must be some kind of joke. But the Shin Bet security service and the Defense Ministry did not bother to reply. "The man declined to provide complete information to the security people, especially in regard to his links with Palestinian terror organizations," the Shin Bet told Haaretz in response to a request.
A textual interpretation: Prado, as understood by the omniscient Shin Bet, clearly has links with terror groups, otherwise he wouldn't want to establish a clown festival in Ramallah. Worse, he refused to speak about those links. Which "terror groups"? Islamic Jihad or the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades perhaps? Al-Qaida? Iran's Quds Force? What links? Was the clown considering transferring Spain's vast stockpiles of laughter to hostile elements? Joke bombs to the jihadists? A devastating punch line to Hamas? "You can laugh," a Foreign Ministry official said afterward, "but the incident has already caused serious damage to Israel's image abroad, which only increased when Israel failed to provide a serious explanation."
Prado is not alone. Were the story not so inane, grotesque and infuriating we might hurt ourselves laughing. But dozens of foreign visitors have been similarly expelled in the past few months because they were suspected of sympathizing with the Palestinians - a grave offense indeed. These are people of conscience who came to express support for the Palestinians but were foiled by the airport's thought police. The Jewish-American historian Norman Finkelstein was expelled for supporting a one-state solution to the Mideast conflict and believing that Israel has turned the Holocaust into an industry. But had he requested a new immigrant document he would have to receive one immediately, in accordance with the Law of Return. But to come to visit and dare to criticize? Send him back to America.
Likewise, three Swedish activists for a Jewish-Palestinian educational group were recently expelled, as was an American journalist who had worked for years for the Palestinian news agency Ma'an. Has anyone ever heard of a supporter or benefactor of the most extremist of settlers being deported? Please - don't make the Shin Bet and the Interior Ministry laugh.
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Ivan Prado wasn't Spain's most famous clown until he was deported....was he deported because of his attitude and refusal to answer questions, or because those in the security circles don't want a clown festival to take place in Ramallah???
Criticism or denial of the state of Israel? ....it's a good question. This clown is not "just" a clown. He was working "hard" against Israel even before. Let's say he is not connected with Al quaida -but why not with Hamas? Is there no Hamas in Ramalah? or maybe Hamas is not searching for any opportunity to engage some famous and bored activist from Europa to their side? But the final line - if the security ask questions and one refuses to answer, they have a full right not to let him enter the country, doesn't matter who he is.
As usual, Levy uses cynicism, cute quotes (how many times can a newspaper hack use the word "clown" in one article?), and other assorted, tired literary attempts to bring down Israel. How proud I am to live in a country like Israel, with true democracy, where people like Levy can have their say, and not be afraid. Try that in Hamas-land, Syria, Saudi Arabia etc etc etc.
If the Foreign Ministry can't get a straight answer out of Shin Bet, who can? The PM? He can't even control his own ministries. So who, if anyone, is in charge in Israel? And if no one's in charge, how can anyone--the US, Hamas, Syria--deal with Israel?
You said it all: "Prado, silly clown that he is, refused to answer." Quite right to send him outa here.
You do not need to win awards to know that.
Lets not allow facts to get in the way of the winner of such wonderful prizes.
"Prado, as understood by the omniscient Shin Bet, clearly has links with terror groups, otherwise he wouldn't want to establish a clown festival in Ramallah." Not content with assassinations, Old Baldy's minions hold Spanish clown at Ben Gurion Airport fot six hours before telling him he is expelled. So who gets the klutz prize of the year? Well, it isn't Sn. Prado.That's for sure. Besides, Israel has all the clowns it can handle right now.
Actually Norman Finkelstein supports a 2 state solution, not 1 state. He has stated this many times.
One side is bad. The other, pristine... The pristine ones are, of course, Hamas, PLO, Iran, Syria, Hezbollah. We are the wolf...
This is what happens when folks high up in security circles take that old song "Send in the Clowns" as their marching orders.
Mr Levy you have gotten the state of Israel in a silver platter, please tell us just one gesture the Palestinians did up to this time for the sake of peace.
What has Israel done for peace? Its version of peace is to keep East Jerusalem and the West Bank settlements, no right to return, and more and more settlements in Jerusalem and the West Bank. Then it will negotiate from there. Let's negotiate over a pizza and all the while eat the pizza.
To create an international incident over such a trifling matter is almost beyond belief - is there a complete absence of common sense in Israel's security service? Israel doesn't have an abundance of goodwill in Europe to waste these days, so "A Job Well Done", Shin Bet
The lunatics are no running the asylum!
They can then go back and complain.
Perhaps Mr. Levy should give some credit to those who risk their lives defending Israel. Perhaps the Shin Bet agent has some information on this "clown" that Mr. Levy does not have access to? Perhaps this "clown" launched into a vicious anti-israel tirade after being questioned at the airport? He did so on his return to Spain. Mr. Levy should base his opinion on facts but if, as is stated by other comments here, he has a hatred for Jews and Israel, his opinion can be understood in that context.
why do we need to import spanish clowns?
Israel's security is not a joke. What was his objective in not answering the questions? All of us entering Israel at Ben Gurion Airport are questioned one way or another. Once, I only travelled with my Canadian passport and not including my Israeli passport - well, did I get a scolding from the lady at the desk at customs and then had to go to the Interior Ministry to get paperwork done (all on vacation time btw). Did you ever read in the book of the famous Canadian Jewish writer, Mordechai Richler, " Next Year in Jerusalem" upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, his misplaced, beloved Corona typewriter was purposely exploded for security reasons. He wasn't upset as much as Padro or the Spanish Foreign Ministry. Security is not a joke nowadays. Sorry Gideon.
I'm surprised there was no gag order on the deportation of the clown; it has become a very popular practice in recent days.
It seems to me this Israeli "journalist" should try to write on more accurate facts. Additionally, his style resembles more a university libel, Stalinist´s style than serious analysis.
is Gideon Levy on aware of the hero that was expelled chaim ben pesach? I seriously doubt that gideon levy Never heard of him. to Those who don't know chaim freed over a million former Soviet Jews. So Gideon Stop lying.
talkbacks ,did you understand Mr Levy s article, i don"t think so, just by the inmature comments made by so many of you,
Excellent article Mr Levy. If it wasn´t so stupid I would laugh but all these examples will make me crying of anger.
Clown Levy, Next time you enter the US try to refuse to answer ANY of the questions you are asked. We will see who is going to have the last laugh
for 'security' reasons then handed the girl her laptop back WITH THE UNCHECKED UNDAMAGED HARD DRIVE, security my a..e, just plain spite and same with the clown, Israel loses every time.
Thanks you Gideon,you make me laugh with you idiotic article.Keep going with your same stupid writing,is the best push you can deliver to the Right. Hey,you know what,I have a good idea for you [free of charge]start arguing with ALAN DERSHOWITZ,you will get millions of talk back
who relies on talking fast rather than talking facts!
Just Google the two names and watch the talk on Democracy Now. It was a splendid show.
Liar Levi! Finkelstein was expelled from Israele because he was in Iran and joined Ahmadinejad calling the end of Israel! Why you have to lie, Levi? It's not enough all the horrible things you write gainst our Country?
Finkelstein was expelled because he visited Lebanon, including Hezbollah figures. A crime of association!
Israel such a funny country: When a clown is mistaken as a terrorist..at least good to know that not all the Israelis lost their sense of humor/self criticism
You should laugh, you point of view will change radically.
he pleases the gentiles but what use is he? psalm 1 tells us do not walk in the company of scoffers.
Gideon Levy again picks and chooses to suit his own personal grudges, ignoring again the concept of universal human rights. Did we ever read Gideon Levy commenting that Palestinians never prosecute their own for the murder of Israeli civilians. Oh please, of course he doesn't want to let readers know about that. Or about how Palestinians who slaughter Israeli civilians are treated as heroes and the families of suicide bombers are paid reward money. Who is the real clown? Why it certainly looks like Gideon Levy is all dressed up to fool ha'aretz readers into thinking he's some great "human rights" advocate. He's not. He's a clown. Ha'aretz - please get his offensive ravings out of your newspaper. Give him early retirement, fire him, or just pay him to stay home and spare us his abusive, biased and one-sided anti-Israel ravings.
if he annoys you that much, don't read his articles! The way i see it, he's leading donkeys to the water but unable to make them drink!
don't make me laugh
The usual fear of open competition in a highly competitive market. They just don't want anyone stealing their laughs by making more of a fool of themself than they do.
And besides, no one thinks they're funny anyway.
Yes, GIdeon clowns can side with Terrorist, I use you as a Prime example.