Supreme Court allows rights activist to stay in Israel during deportation appeal

2 June 2019, 4:14 pm

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The Supreme Court has issued a ruling allowing the local director of Human Rights Watch to remain in Israel while he fights a deportation order.

A lower court in April ordered Omar Shakir to leave the country, saying his activities against Israel’s West Bank settlements amount to a boycott of the country. Israeli law bars entry to those who have publicly supported a boycott of Israel or its West Bank settlements.

Shakir, who is a US citizen, had appealed to the court to allow him to stay for the duration of the proceedings.

In today’s ruling, the Supreme Court does not set a date, but says the appeal should be heard in the current court year ending July 21.

— AP