Israel’s Supreme Court Stops Deportation of U.S. Student

Israel’s Supreme Court on Sunday ordered that a U.S. student’s impending deportation over her involvement in a pro-Palestine organization be halted until her appeal can be heard. Lara Alqasem, 22, has been in airport detention fighting her deportation ever since Oct. 2, when she was refused entry to the country by security officials upon arriving. Alqasem had secured a student visa and had registered to study at Jerusalem’s Hebrew University but was denied entry on the grounds that she once supported the Boycott, Divest, Sanction movement. Her lawyers had filed an appeal on Sunday after a Tel Aviv District Court on Friday rejected her appeal. The appeal motion is expected to be heard this week.