Because they don’t accept any criticism.
I don’t regret many things in my life nor would I ever take back what I said and did but I truly wish I had not fallen into their trap. I was followed and surveilled and in the end they did it openly wanting me to know that they knew where I was going and who I was meeting with, making their presence felt. It resembles scientology in a way; if you’re a persona non grata someone is always standing near you, harassing you, taking pictures and not answering any questions if they’re spoken to. It drives you mad.
My best friend’s mother was born in Tel Aviv – but later emigrated to the UK because she didn’t agree with the politics – so he has some extended family in Israel. They’re activists and wanted to meet us and I also wanted to meet a OB/GYN colleague/activist in Al-Khalil I’d only ever spoken to online and on the phone. We picked Eurovision week because we thought it wouldn’t draw attention since we go every year. My mother’s side were active members of NSDAP so like whatever, I knew I’d be on some naughty list despite having cut off all ties to my family the day I turned 18. Unfortunately, Gary was also a target right away because of his family connections and he was understandably very frightened and distressed when he was approached and suddenly questioned about it. At the end of the week I lost my temper and we were escorted to our gate at Ben Gurion. I was never given a court order or any paper, they just took more pictures and told me that I wouldn’t be able to board a flight to Israel ever again and I believe them, they’re fucking thorough in their suppression of any criticism. Gary doesn’t know his status but has been too scared to even try to go back.
No-one took video, nothing went viral. I can’t see my friends anymore. They defeated me. I didn’t gain anything and I also didn’t help anyone with my loud TED talk titled “Israel is a terrorist state”.