Lara Alqasem

Gilad Erdan speaks during a press conference in Tel Aviv in 2018. (Roy Alima/Flash90)

January 30, 2019, 7:24 pm

Minister threatens to ban Amnesty over settlement tourism report

Gilad Erdan asks Strategic Affairs Ministry to look into barring rights group that called on Airbnb, Booking.com, Expedia, TripAdvisor to stop listing accommodations in settlements

By AFP and ToI Staff

Rose Asaf (Screen grab via Washington Square News)

December 8, 2018, 1:13 pm

Israeli co-authors NYU resolution to divest from companies with Israel ties

Rose Asaf says people listen when Israeli Jews speak up about the issue, but school says it won’t implement call as ‘endowment should not be used for making political statements’

By ToI Staff and JTA

Susan Abulhawa (CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikipedia)

November 2, 2018, 9:15 pm

Palestinian-American woman detained at airport, to be deported

Immigration authorities say decision to deny Susan Abulhawa entry due to past incident at border crossing and not connected to BDS

By AFP

US student Lara Alqasem at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem on October 17, 2018. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

October 23, 2018, 3:18 pm

Hebrew University students protest arrival of US ex-activist held at airport

Student puts up posters comparing Lara Alqasem, whom the government accuses of supporting BDS, to terrorists, including Osama bin Laden, days after far-right campus demonstration

By Stuart Winer and ToI Staff

Lara Alqasem, a 22-year-old American graduate student, at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem on October 17, 2018, prior to winning an appeal against deportation for alleged BDS activities. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

October 19, 2018, 4:43 am

Entering Israel after 15-day ordeal, barred US student expresses relief

Lara Alqasem thanks lawyers, family and friends for supporting her through weeks of detention and court cases to be allowed to study in Jerusalem

By ToI Staff and Alexander Fulbright

US student Lara Alqasem sits for a hearing at the Tel Aviv District Court on October 11, 2018. (Jack Guez/AFP)

October 18, 2018, 11:14 pm

A ‘big victory for BDS’: Ministers pan Supreme Court for letting student stay

Government officials condemn ruling overturning deportation of US-born Lara Alqasem, say it will harm efforts to combat boycott movement

By ToI Staff

US student Lara Alqasem attends a hearing at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem on October 17, 2018. (Photo by Menahem KAHANA / AFP)

October 18, 2018, 8:35 pm

Supreme Court nixes deportation of US student accused of BDS support

Lara Alqasem’s lawyers hail ruling rejecting state’s attempt to bar her entry to study; interior minister calls decision a ‘disgrace’; she starts at Hebrew U. next week

By Alexander Fulbright

Interior Minister Aryeh Deri attends a Finance Committee meeting in the Knesset in Jerusalem on February 27, 2018. (Flash90)

October 18, 2018, 2:02 pm

Ministers slam ‘shameful’ court decision to allow Lara Alqasem into Israel

Interior Minister vows to prevent similar cases in the future; Hebrew University welcomes US student after supporting her legal battle against deportation

By Michael Bachner

October 17, 2018, 4:45 pm

Supreme Court hears appeal by US student barred over BDS allegations

‘How does a ban on her entry advance the fight against BDS?’ asks Justice Vogelman, as Lara Alqasem’s attorney argues that she would not come to Israel and then call for boycott

By AFP and ToI Staff

October 16, 2018, 4:52 am

Association for Israel Studies backs US student detained at Israeli airport

Academic group says the best place to learn about the Jewish state is at one of its top universities

By JTA

October 14, 2018, 4:09 pm

Supreme Court freezes deportation of US student accused of boycott support

Stay granted after Lara Alqasem, who lost a previous appeal, asks to bring case before justices in Israel’s top court

By ToI Staff and Agencies

American Lara Alqasem, center, sits in a courtroom prior to a hearing at the district court in Tel Aviv, Israel, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018.(AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)

October 12, 2018, 11:21 pm

ADL, J Street and Reform movement back student BDS activist barred by Israel

Israel’s decision to block Lara Alqasem from entering country harms Jewish state’s democracy, US groups say; a Tel Aviv court rules ban is legal

By ToI Staff and JTA

October 12, 2018, 7:15 pm

Court upholds entry ban on US student accused of supporting Israel boycott

Tel Aviv judge rejects Lara Alqasem’s appeal, says government acting legally to deny her entry; Hebrew U. denounces decision; she can appeal to Supreme Court

By ToI Staff and Agencies

American Lara Alqasem sits in a courtroom prior to a hearing at the district court in Tel Aviv, Israel, October 11, 2018. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)

October 11, 2018, 9:11 pm

Minister rejects US student’s promise not to promote BDS while in Israel

Gilad Erdan says letter sent by Lara Alqasem’s lawyers failed to renounce past actions or vow not to engage in such activities in the future

By Michael Bachner

Lara Alqasem, sitting, at Tel Aviv District court on October 11, 2018. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

October 11, 2018, 3:47 pm

Who’s really hurting Israel? 9 things to know for October 11

The barring of alleged activist Lara Alqasem is seen doing more harm than good for the anti-BDS movement, and why is the envoy to the UN slamming a text Israel signed off on

By Joshua Davidovich