Israeli government task force formed to locate, deport BDS activists

JERUSALEM (JTA) — A new Israeli government task force is being formed to deport anti-Israel activists at work in the country.

The committee, announced on Sunday by Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan and Interior Minister Arye Deri, will locate activists for the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement who are in the country, and will prevent BDS activists from entering.

The task force “is a necessary step in light of the malicious intentions of delegitimization activists who act to spread lies and twist the reality in our region,” Erdan said in his announcement, the Jerusalem Post reported. Erdan also serves as Strategic Affairs and Public Diplomacy Minister.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, Erdan announced the task force and called on his followers to tell him and his task force about any activists hiding in the country as “imposter tourists.”

“Boycotting Israel must have a price,” he also said in the post.