Court freezes deportation of Human Rights Watch director

The Jerusalem District Court issues an interim injunction freezing the Interior Ministry-ordered deportation of a senior Human Rights Watch official alleged to have promoted boycotting Israel.

Responding to a petition from HRW, the court says the deportation order issued by the government was based on “old information” known to the Interior Ministry when it granted a visa to the NGO’s Israel and Palestine director Omar Shakir.

Shakir, who has denied support of boycott against Israel, will be allowed to remain in Israel until the end of legal proceedings against him.

Listen, all my NY Friends! I am keeping @OmarSShakir in the promised land a while longer 🙂 Just received an interim injunction from the Jerusalem District Court allowing @hrw's country director to stay and work until the petition against his deportation is ruled. pic.twitter.com/TzCshvUWFd

— Michael Sfard מיכאל ספרד (@sfardm) May 23, 2018