Washington, December 8 (RHC)-- The World Council of Churches is condemning Israel for interrogating and deporting its associate general secretary, Isabel Apawo Phiri, upon her arrival at Tel Aviv airport. 

The respected African theologian was traveling with other church leaders for a conference in Jerusalem, when she was denied entry into Israel.  Israeli officials say they blocked her entry because of her support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, or BDS, an international campaign to pressure Israel to comply with international law and respect Palestinian rights. 

The decision is poised to prove controversial for Israel as the WCC represents churches, denominations and church fellowships in more than 110 countries, and represents more than 500 million Christians around the world and from different religious sects. 

The BDS movement aims to encourage global financial institutions and others to end their participation in the economy of Israel until the country departs from territories in the Middle East that it has seized and occupies, and recognizes the State of Palestine as a sovereign nation.