Who wouldn't you allow to participate in a parliamentary delegation to Israel? An MEP linked to far right anti-semitism and holocaust denial. That seems a fairly straightforward rule of thumb. Don't take such figures along as your hosts might get a trifle jumpy.
Welcome to the pomposity of the European Parliament, ther post-democrats who represent us. They decided to include Marine Le Pen in their ranks, and the Israelis thereupon refused to meet any of the delegation. The visit was promptly cancelled for "technical reasons", or, as one offical noted, "rather pointless".
The cancellation was not met with universal acclaim. Some think that a foreign power should not dictate the membership of a parliamentary delegation:
On the other hand, according to the official, there was concern on the parliament's side that a national government should not be allowed to dictate the composition of the group.
Others were miffed that they didn't go, as they thought had a contribution to make, and the Israelis shoudl have been willing to put the Holocaust behind them:
Speaking before Thursday's decision was announced, Irish centre-right MEP Simon Coveney, on the delegation list, told EUobserver that he believed the trip should go ahead.
"I don't think we should be cancelling the event … personally I am going because I am interested [in the issue]."
He added that any members of a parliament delegation have to remember that they are representing the views of the EU assembly and not their own personal view points.