Israel was bracing itself Wednesday for an expected mass "fly-in" of Palestinian activists, who have said they intend arriving at Ben Gurion Airport, near Tel Aviv, on Friday, DPA reported.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met in the morning with security and police chiefs at the airport and instructed them to stop the "provocations" according to international law, Ofir Gendelman, a spokesman for the premier, said.
"Every country has the right to prevent the entry of provocateurs into its borders," local media quoted the premier as saying during the meeting.
Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovich said the activists who try to disturb the peace will not be permitted to enter Israel, but will be returned to their countries of origin.
Israel has in the past denied entry to activists it believes are intending to disturb the peace.
A statement by the activists said nearly 600 men, women and children intend to arrive at the airport on Friday, with the stated intention of visiting the West Bank.
The statement said that the activists have "nothing to hide," and are arriving "with totally peaceful intentions," and "are not coming to spread chaos" at the airport
The Ha'aretz daily said Israel has provided intelligence to the United States, seven European countries, and several foreign airline companies regarding the activists who plan on arriving.