Some 650 policemen to be deployed across Israel´s main gateway; Terminal 1 to become sterile zone

Some 650 police officers, mostly in plain clothes, are expected to meet pro-Palestinian activists who will arrive in Israel as part of the protest fly-in scheduled for Sunday.

Israel believes some 500-1,000 activists will try to enter Israel en route to the Palestinian Authority.

Police sources said that most plain-clothed officers will not be armed.

Israel strives to stem any provocation at Ben Gurion International Airport, but the organizers claim that unlike in 2011, foreign airlines are unlikely to heed Israel´s request to blacklist the activist and prevent them from boarding flights.

The operation, dubbed "Safe Sphere 2" includes teams from the Ministry of Public Security, the police, Military Intelligence, the Immigration authority, the Israel Aviation Authority and the ministries of Defense and Interior.

Terminal 1 at Ben Gurion International Airport will be declared a sterile zone and passengers identified as part of the "flytilla" will be diverted to it. The activists will most likely be denied entry to Israel and they will be deported.

The police are also gearing to stop any radical left-wing activists from disrupting the airport´s order; as well as to stop any counter- protest by the Right. (Copyright 2012 © Yedioth Internet 04/11/12)