The delegation later agreed to undergo security checks and left for Britain to attend a peace conference in Canterbury.

Muslim officials from the West Bank, including Sheikh Tala Abu Sider of Hebron, have also been invited to the Canterbury meeting.

The high-ranking church officials included Butros Mualem of the Greek Catholic Church in the Galilee, Munib Yunan, the Lutheran Bishop of Jerusalem, and Elias Shakour, a Greek Catholic priest, founder of Mar Elias College and a author of "Blood Brothers".

When the delegation members arrived at the airport yesterday morning, they were asked to undergo a security check. But the Christian officials refused to be checked on grounds that they were senior church officials who enjoy immunity, and demanded that they be treated as VIPs.

When their request was turned down by airport security officials, the officials drove back to Jerusalem, where they held an impromptu press conference strongly condemning Israel for mistreating them.

The delegation contacted British Prime Minister Tony Blair and asked him to intervene with the Israeli government to allow them to travel without having to pass through the security check.

After contacts between the Foreign Ministry and the Foreign Office in London, the delegation returned to the airport, where they underwent the normal security check and had their luggage examined by security officials.

Shmuel Evyatar, Christian Affairs Adviser to Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert, expressed his regret over the incident. He said he didn't understand why people "who live in a situation which is common to all of us, and more so after September 11, refused to undergo the routine security check, claiming they are clergy people and VIPs.

Note from "Come and See" Editor: Security Checks are not routine in Israel. Only Arab Citizens are required to undergo a humilating security check in airports. The preasts, who are all Arab, refused to undergo this check, to raise awareness for the issue of discrimination in Israeli airports.