Israel Bars Foreign Envoys From West Bank Meeting Because Their Governments Don't Recognize The State Of Israel

JERUSALEM (NYT) — Israel on Sunday barred the delegations of five countries from attending a diplomatic conference in Ramallah, in the West Bank, upending plans by the Palestinian president to announce his intention to renew the Palestinians’ bid this September for enhanced status in the United Nations.

A senior Israeli official said the delegations — from Algeria, Bangladesh, Cuba, Indonesia and Malaysia — were denied permission to use Israeli border crossings because their governments do not recognize the state of Israel. [...]

The five countries were among 12 so-called nonaligned nations sending delegations to Ramallah for an emergency conference on the Palestinian issue. The other seven — Colombia, Egypt, India, Senegal, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe — declined to attend without their comrades. The 12 were expected to approve a “Ramallah Declaration,” which condemns Jewish settlement in the West Bank and supports the Palestinians bid to upgrade their status at the United Nations.

More...