Two MPs Walk into an Airport...

Not everyone gets it...

A religious Jew and secular Jew, walk into a pub. They walk through the door, arguing furiously and loudly about the war in Israel. Each is adamant and convinced he is in the right, with no room for compromise. They approach the bar, cease their deliberations and order two pints. The barman looks at them coldly and says, “we don’t serve Jews”, then asked them to leave. 

Two Labour MPs, one born in Yemen, and one born in China (the first ever elected MPs from their respective communities), walk into the same pub. They walk through the door, arguing loudly about the best way to protect human rights and save the world. They approach the bar, cease their deliberations and order, two drinks (non alcoholic, I believe). The barman says, “sure, go sit down, I’ll bring them over”. 

As they discuss the ills of the world, they plan an international trip to fight human rights abuses and put the world to rights. Being a progressive and caring person, the MP born in China says to her friend, let’s go to Yemen and confront the Houthis about their human rights abuses of the Yemeni people. The MP born in Yemen, thanks her friend for her thoughtfulness and generosity of spirit, but tells her, “No, it wouldn’t work. it would be far too hard. They would never listen to us".

Being equally progressive and caring, and not to be outdone, she then goes on to say, “I have an idea, I’m a Muslim and you’re Chinese, why don’t we go to China and confront the Chinese about their horrendous treatment of the Uighurs?” The MP born in China thanks her friend and says, “What a wonderful idea. That would serve both our communities, and address a truly horrible and unforgivable abuse of human rights.” She continues. “But, no... That would also be so difficult. The Chinese government would never listen to us. It wouldn’t get us anywhere. It could start a diplomatic incident." They fall silent. 

The barman arrives with the drinks. He had overheard their conversation. As he puts their drinks down, he says, “I just had a couple of Jews in, ordering drinks, but I kicked them out.” He gives them a knowing smile. The two MPs thanked him, but didn't react. They clinked their glasses and each took a sip. They lowered their glasses and looked at each other. Now both were smiling. Their faces light up and simultaneously, as if perfectly rehearsed, they both blurt out one word, “Israel”!

For avoidance of any doubt, the section above is pure fiction... It's more of a joke, that I feel the need to state what should be obvious, but hey... 

The Easy Option

Apparently, the human right abuses in their countries of origin are either not worth the effort, or just too damn hard. Does it not seem logical that they would have a desire to help the countries in which they were born, both have which have ore than their fair share of suffering and injustice.

As I am sure MP for Sheffield Central, Abtisam Mohamed is aware that human rights abuses are aplenty in Yemen. According to Human Right’s Watch’s 2025 report, they include...

• Arbitrary Detention, Torture, and Enforced Disappearance

• Blocking and Impeding Humanitarian Access

• Women’s and Girls’ Rights

• Red Sea Attacks

• Israeli Strikes on Hodeidah

• Harms Against Children in Armed Conflict

• Landmines and Unexploded Ordinance

• Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

• Abuses Against Migrants and Asylum Seekers

• Lack of Accountability

Houthis in Yemen

Lots to do then, for an eager young UK MP born in Yemen who desperately wants to have an impact on the international stage. If she cares, that is...

And as I am sure Yuan Yang, MP for Earley and Woodley, is all too aware China is no slouch when it comes to human rights abuses.  Again, according the Human Right’s Watch 2025 report, “The Chinese government has committed crimes against humanity against Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims as part of its abusive “Strike Hard Campaign against Violent Terrorism.” Violations in Xinjiang include mass arbitrary detention torture, mass surveillance, forced labour, cultural and religious persecution, and family separation.” There is also their treatment of the Uighurs.

Other abuses include problems with the following...

• Freedom of Expression

• Freedom of Religion

• Human Rights Defenders

• Women’s and Girls’ Rights

• Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

• Tibet

• Hong Kong

• Xinjiang 

Human rights protesters in China

So more than enough for an eager young UK MP of Chinese descent to get her teeth into on the international stage. Again, if she actually cares of course.

This is not to say of course that they cannot have opinions and be active regarding Israel and the Palestinians. I have to admit, I am curious though, as to why that comes before all else. Could it perhaps be, they perceive it as the easy option.

Truth or Dare

So, two British MPs walk off a plane, and into an airport, not just any airport, Ben Gurion airport in Israel. They casually saunter up to border control and declare they have arrived on an "official parliamentary visit,". The punch line... They are promptly refused entry and shown the door, or more accurately, the plane that would return them to the UK.

They dared to lie to the Israeli border authorities. Their trip was anything but official. It was sponsored/funded by two anti Israel charities, Yet, the UK's Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, labelled Israel's actions as "unacceptable, counterproductive, and deeply concerning." Me thinks the “honourable gentleman” could give lessons in disingenuity and hypocrisy.

Caught in the Act

Labour MPs Abtisam Mohamed, and Yuan Yang, both first time parliamentarians, found themselves on an early exit and a return flight to the UK after being denied entry by the Israelis. Had they genuinely come as part of a parliamentary delegation to learn the reality of the current conflict, they would most likely been waved through with little or no hassle. But, the two political newbies, chose to hide their true intent." 

They were not as declared, on a British parliamentary delegation to assess humanitarian conditions in the West Bank. They were actually on an excursion, paid for by the Council for Arab British Understanding (CAABU) and Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), both of which are known for their pro-Palestinian and vehemently anti Israel stance.

Israel's stance, on the other hand, is equally robust and clear. Individuals who support and advocate for anti-Israel movements like Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS), and seek to harm to the Jewish State, simply aren't welcome. Such is Israel's prerogative, the same as any sovereign nation and indeed, much like the UK's own policies on border control.

These MPs didn’t just mislabel their trip, they outright lied about being on official parliamentary business. Worse still, they obscured their full intent, which was to meet with groups hostile to Israel, delegitimize the Jewish state, and lend their voices to a false and malicious narrative that rejects Israel’s right to defend itself, and even questions Israel’s right to exist. Israel, like any democracy, is entitled to judge whether granting entry, to visitors with such ill intent, is in the public interest. In this case, allowing entry to two such charlatans, was clearly not.

Who Paid for the Trip? CAABU and MAP.

The Council for Arab British Understanding (CAABU) was established in 1967. CAABU positions itself as a lobby group aiming to influence British Middle East policy. While it claims to promote conflict resolution and human rights, the council has been criticized for its strong anti Israel activity, dressed up as pro-Palestinian advocacy. 

Dr. Swee Ang, founder of Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP)

Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) was founded in 1984 by Dr. Swee Ang Chai. MAP operates medical clinics in the West Bank, Gaza, and Lebanon. Despite its humanitarian mission, MAP has faced serious allegations of politicizing aid. Dr. Ang, along with Dr. Paola Manduca, co-authored a controversial 2014 open letter in The Lancet attacking Israel. It was later revealed that both had circulated a video by notorious white supremacist David Duke, spouting anti-Semitic conspiracy theories. I suppose nothing says "human rights" quite like citing a former KKK leader. 

A Symptom of a Larger Problem

The behaviour of these two MPs is not an isolated case. It’s symptomatic of a broader and deeply worrying trend in UK politics. Anti-Israel sentiment is no longer confined to the fringe. It has not so much crept, but in the last eighteen months, leaped with vigour into the mainstream, particularly within the progressive left. What masquerades as pro-Palestinian advocacy (perfectly legitimate), all too often morphs into unrestrained, vitriol, false narratives and poisonous attacks on Israel, and increasingly, against Jews in general.

The progressive movement, which supposedly champions tolerance, free speech, minority rights and more, is anti racism, bigotry, and violence, now finds itself aligned with radical Islamic extremists, as well as openly anti-Semitic groups, organisations, and individuals, under the banner of intersectionality. 

Genocidal death cults such as Hamas and Hezbollah are being romanticised and lionised as part of “the global left’s” struggle against oppression. Apparently, rape, mutilation, immolation, mass slaughter and kidnap of men, women children and infants are now viewed as “legitimate resistance”. Not to mention the brutalisation, exploitations and sacrifice of their own people.

Jeremy Corbyn in anti Israel alliance with other independent MPs

This ideological “pander-fest” has all too real consequences. Following the greatest and most brutal slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust, logic is turned on its head. The perpetrators of October 7th, somehow become the victims. The left in the UK falls over itself to rationalise, justify, question, or even deny the horrors of October 7th, and Israel's right to defend itself. This is not advocacy. This is not advocacy. This is not about the welfare of ordinary Palestinians. This is simple “agitprop”. 

People in Glass Houses

The UK's indignation rings pretty damn hollow when viewed against its own track record of refusing entry to "undesirables". In 2008, Moshe Feiglin, a right wing Israeli politician and former deputy speaker of the Israeli Knesset was barred from entering Britain on grounds that his presence was "not conducive to the public good." The UK's message was unambiguous, "our borders, our rules".

And he’s not the only one. Over the years, Britain has denied entry to various individuals, including politicians, whose views or actions were deemed contrary to public interest.

• Louis Farrakhan, leader of the Nation of Islam, was banned for his racist and anti-Semitic views.

• Geert Wilders, a Dutch politician, and victor in the most recent elections in Holland, was initially refused entry due to his anti-Islamic stance.

• Dieudonné M'bala M'bala, a French comedian, was denied entry due to his inflammatory and often antisemitic remarks in his performances.

Wikipedia has a list of “notable” individuals banned from entry into the UK, including politicians, commentators and others the UK deems undesirable. Some are obvious as to why. Some might surprise you. Here's a piece of useless information. US, celebrity cook and home maker, Martha Stewart cannot enter the UK, apparently due to her criminal conviction in the US. But, I’m not sure how much ill intent she has displayed towards the UK.

Moreover, if a foreign national turns up at Heathrow airport, lies to a British border official about the nature of their visit, and the lie is found out, as a matter of course, they are refused entry and put on the next plane home. They may be held and questioned for a time. But, no fuss, nor frills, no headlines. Just standard procedure for British border control.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy

Israel did nothing more than apply the same standard. Yet, like with so many things, when Israel exercises similar discretion, British officials cry foul. Credit to her, Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, and leader of the opposition, defended Israel’s decision. In a TV interview with Sky News, the Conservative leader said, “I think that every country should be able to control its borders, and that’s what Israel is doing, as far as I understand.” She continued, "they were coming in to do something that they were not allowed to do, and so I respect that decision”. 

The Real Issue - What's an MP to do?

The uproar over Mohamed and Yang’s deportation conveniently diverts attention away from a more pressing concern, the integrity of parliamentary conduct. Misrepresenting (and I believe I am being generous here), the nature of their visit, along with the affiliations of their sponsors, not only undermines not only their own personal credibility but also that of the UK parliament, where their behaviour compromises and disrespects the very institution they represent.

70 MPs supporting the two MPs refused entry by Israel

The UK's Foreign secretary’s disproportionate reaction to Israel's decision, and the support from some 70 MPs and ministers, for the two dishonest MPs, smack of hypocrisy and double standards, while the UK maintains its own stringent entry policies, albeit not that effectively these days.

Sovereign nations have the unequivocal right to determine who crosses their borders. The UK exercises this right regularly. Expecting Israel to operate differently is both naïve and highly disingenuous.

As for our two duplicitous young MPs, I would recommend that next time they decide to travel to a country in order to undermine and malign it... don’t! 

One last word of wisdom... Should the honourable members for Sheffield Central and Earley and Woodley, insist on travelling abroad for whatever reason, they would be best advised not to lie to border control. Tell the truth! You may find it refreshing. Or better yet, stay home, attend to the very real needs of your constituents, and spare us the propaganda, false narratives and sanctimonious outrage.