Israeli top court orders expulsion of HRW official over BDS support
Occupied Palestine (QNN)- The Israeli Supreme Court upheld the expulsion of Human Rights Watch representative in the occupation state and Palestine, Omar Shakir, accused by the Israelis of supporting the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement, on Tuesday.
The unanimous three-judge decision supporting the Israeli government’s move ruled that the interior minister did not err in deciding not to renew the activist’s residency.
It will now be up to the Israeli government whether to follow through and deport Shakir, who brands the move a bid by ‘Israel’ to silence and delegitimise critics of its treatment of Palestinians.
“If it proceeds, I have 20 days to leave and it’ll join ranks of Iran, North Korea & Egypt in blocking access for HRW official,” Shakir tweeted after the decision was announced, referring to ‘Israel’, which has sought to expel him for more than a year.
Breaking: Israeli Supreme Court upholds my deportation over my rights advocacy. Decision now shifts back to Israeli gov; if it proceeds, I have 20 days to leave & it’ll join ranks of Iran, N Korea & Egypt in blocking access for @hrw official. We wont stop. And we wont be the last https://t.co/Wf4FAyK2Qk
— Omar Shakir (@OmarSShakir) November 5, 2019
Michael Sfard, one of Shakir’s attorneys, said of the decision: “Today, the State of Israel joined the list of countries like Syria, Iran and North Korea, which have expelled Human Rights Watch representatives in an attempt to silence criticism of human rights violations taking place within their borders.”
The Israeli Interior Minister Arye Dery, for his part, said he welcomed the court’s decision, saying that “anyone who works against the state should know that we will not allow him to live or work here.”
The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor condemned the decision and the Israeli policy targeting human rights activists and organizations
Moments ago, Israel's Supreme Court decided to uphold the deportation of @OmarSShakir, @HRW's Israel and Palestine Director.
We strongly condemn #Israel's systematic policy of cracking down on Human Right's activists and institutions whose vital role should rather be commended. pic.twitter.com/ixN8mnalqs
— Euro-Med Monitor (@EuroMedHR) November 5, 2019
This would be the first expulsion of its kind under a 2017 law allowing the deportation of foreigners who support boycotting Israel, though there have been cases of people being denied entry under the measure.
The BDS movement – Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions – calls for a boycott of Israel over its treatment of Palestinians.
‘Israel’ sees the movement as a strategic threat as it supports Palestinian refugees’ right to go back to their homeland, which the occupation state deems an existential threat.
