US student appeals to Supreme Court over deportation order

Lawyers for an American student file a petition with the Supreme Court over an appeals court decision to uphold authorities’ denial of her entry to Israel over her alleged support for boycotting the Jewish state, the Haaretz daily reports.

Lara Alqasem has been held at Ben Gurion Airport since arriving nearly two weeks to study in a master’s program at Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Authorities accuse her of supporting boycotts of Israel, something she denies.

Hebrew University is expected to join the appeal if the Supreme Court takes it up, according to Haaretz.

On Friday, an appeals court upheld the entry ban on Alqasem, saying the government was acting in accordance with a 2017 law t-hat prevents supporters of the boycott, sanctions and divestment movement from entering the country.