Protest group tells Israelis to print hotline numbers for airport

A network linked to Israel’s protest movement is urging citizens returning from abroad to vote to print out emergency contact numbers.

The Detainee Support Network, known as Ma’arach Otef Atzurim, circulated a message in WhatsApp groups asking travelers to prepare for possible police action at Ben-Gurion Airport.

The message instructed voters to print the hotline numbers and place them inside their passports. This step ensures the contacts remain accessible if police seize personal devices upon landing.

A network representative told The Jerusalem Post that the group anticipates police may detain voters simply because they have the authority to do so. She noted that while no arrests have occurred in previous elections, the network aims to be prepared for any scenario.

The representative suggested that grounds for detention could include social media activity or opposition to travelers returning to the country. She stated that police might take individuals to a station for minor reasons.

Despite the warning, the group emphasized that recent days have gone smoothly. The representative expressed confidence that police would perform their duties properly and that no unusual incidents have been reported so far.

The advice is framed as advance preparation rather than an immediate reaction to specific events. The network said it has prepared for every possible situation to support citizens during the election period.