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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Court upholds deportation of Human Rights Watch director under BDS rule |
| 2019-04-17 |
| [IsraelTimes] Omar Shakir ordered to leave country by May 1 over calls to boycott companies to pressure Israel; activist says he only called on firms to cease operations in settlements. The Jerusalem District Court rejected an appeal by Omar Shakir to remain in the country, citing his ongoing support of boycotts of Israel during his time in the country. Israel enacted a law in 2017 barring entry to any foreigner who "knowingly issues a public call for boycotting Israel." Tuesday’s ruling was the first time the law was applied to someone already residing in the country. Shakir, a US citizen, has worked as the New York-based group’s Israel and Paleostine director since October 2016. The interior minister ordered Shakir’s deportation in May 2018, calling him a "boycott activist." Human Rights Watch said neither the organization nor Shakir promotes Israel boycotts, but has called for companies to cease operations in West Bank settlements because they "inherently benefit from and contribute to serious violations of international humanitarian law." The court upheld that the law applies to boycotts of "areas under [Israel’s] control," namely the West Bank, not just of Israel proper. Human Rights Watch said in a statement that the court’s ruling "threatens the ability of all Human Rights Watch staff members to access both Israel and the West Bank." |
| Posted by:trailing wife |