The main terminal at Washington Dulles International Airport. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

JNS.org – A group of five prominent anti-Israel BDS movement activists were prevented on Monday from boarding a flight from Washington, DC to Israel’s Ben-Gurion International Airport (via Germany).

The anti-Zionist organization Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) had coordinated the “interfaith delegation” to Israel. When the group attempted to check in for a Lufthansa flight at Dulles International Airport, they were informed the Israeli government had ordered they not be allowed to board.

The activists prohibited from boarding included JVP members Rabbi Alissa Wise, Alana Krivo-Kaufman and Noah Habeeb, as well as Rick Ufford Chase of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship and Shakeel Syed, a national board member with American Muslims for Palestine.

“We were told at check-in that the airline has a letter from the Israeli government saying we are not allowed to fly to Israel. I wasn’t even able to get as far as checking my bag,” said Wise, according to a JVP statement. “I’m heartbroken and outraged.”

Israel’s move falls in line with the Knesset legislature’s recent approval of a bill forbidding BDS activists from entering the Jewish state.