A graduate American student allowed to study in Israel, the Court rules: NPR

A graduate American student will be allowed to study in Israel after the Supreme Court overturned a lower court ruling barring her from entering the country because of her past involvement in a boycott movement.

Lara Alqasem, 22, of Florida, has been arrested at Ben Gurion International Airport since her arrival on October 2nd. She holds a student visa from an Israeli consulate and is registered to study human rights at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Authorities accused her of supporting the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement, called BDS, against Israel.

Judge Neal Handel of the Israeli Supreme Court stated that Alqasem's desire to study in Israel meant that it was unlikely that she would be "a clandestine boycott activist".

Alqasem reportedly said in a statement that she was "relieved by the court's decision" and thanked her lawyers, family and friends.

"As the actions of the applicant do not constitute a sufficient cause to prohibit her entry into Israel, the inevitable impression is that the invalidation of the visa given to her was due to the political views that She holds, "said the court, according to Haaretz. "If this is really the case, then we are talking about an extreme and dangerous step, which could lead to the collapse of the pillars upon which democracy in Israel rests."

Alqasem has a Palestinian father and was president of the Florida University Chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine, an association of about 200 affiliates in American universities, according to the national group. Many chapters in the group support BDS campaigns.

In 2017, Israel passed a law banning entry to foreigners who support the BDS movement, ongoing for more than a decade and aimed at pressuring Israel to support it. independence of the Palestinians.

Alqasem said she no longer supported the boycott of Israel. Judge Hendel is reported to have stated that the Israeli Ministry of the Interior "openly admitted that he had no evidence that the appellant had been boycotting since April 2017". He stated that "it is impossible to ignore the sporadic and relatively minor character of the cell" and that it "was not one of the most successful boycott organizations. in sight ". Haaretz reported.

Judge Hendel stated that the law "did not involve punishment or revenge for wrongdoing", and then added that "preventing the entry of the appellant does not advance the purpose of the law and clearly departs from the limits of reasonableness ".

Israeli Minister of Public Security and Strategic Affairs Gilad Erdan wrote on Twitter: "I deeply regret the decision of the Supreme Court #LaraAlqasemwhich indicates a fundamental lack of understanding of the nature and methods of #BDS campaign. This decision will not weaken our resolve to fight the anti-Semitic BDS campaign. "

He added in another tweet: "We will review the legal criteria to ensure compliance with the original intent of the law.The State of Israel has the right, like any democracy, to Prevent the entry of people seeking to harm the state and its citizens. "

The National Students for Justice in Palestine webpage states that all chapters are autonomous, but that the national group is opposed to anti-Semitism.

Leora Bechor, one of Alqasem's lawyers, told NPR's Daniel Estrin that the court's decision was "a victory for freedom of expression, academic freedom and the rule of law." The case of Lara proves that the maintenance of order by thought has absolutely no place in a democracy ".

"Lara has ensured that no one is denied the right to enter Israel on the basis of lazy Google searches and Google files of defamation groups," said other lawyer Bechor and Alqasem, Yotam Ben-Hillel, in a statement to the Associated Press.

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem had backed Alqasem's appeal against a lower court decision. The university said On Thursday, he is delighted "to welcome our new student, Lara Alqasem, as she begins her master's degree in human rights and transitional justice at our law school next week".