The Hebrew University of Jerusalem has asked to join the pending appeal to void a deportation order against American student Lara Alqasem, 22, who is currently being held at Ben Gurion International Airport.
Alqasem was denied entry into Israel upon her arrival last Tuesday (Oct. 2) despite having been issued a one-year student visa by the Israeli Consulate in Florida, due to her history of anti-Israel activity on behalf of the international Boycott, Divest and Sanctions movement.
This is the second appeal by Alqasem against the deportation order; Tel Aviv District Court ruled Monday that the student is to remain in the detention facility until a final ruling can be made on the case, according to a report by Haaretz.
Judge Kobi Vardi said in the decision that he saw no reason to release her from the airport “until the claims against her regarding the risk and possible harm to the State of Israel are clarified.”
The senate of the Hebrew University has called on Strategic Affairs Minister Gilad Erdan and Interior Minister Aryeh Deri to allow Alqasem into Israel. The senate said in a statement that its university is “a place for the exchange of ideas and the acquisition and creation of knowledge. It is a place that does not shrink from disagreement and is pleased with a multiplicity of opinions. [Erdan’s] decision not to allow the student into the country merely because of her opinions constitutes a threat against what the university represents,” Haaretz reported.
The student, enrolled to begin a Masters Degree program this fall at Hebrew University, held membership as an undergrad in the University of Florida’s anti-Israeli Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) organization since 2014. SJP is considered a branch program of the BDS movement. Alqasem served as the group’s president from 2016-2017.
Far-left Meretz party leader Tamar Zandberg and Knesset members Esawi Freige and Mossi Raz were allowed to visit with Alqasem on Sunday after turning to the Interior Minister. The three lawmakers had earlier been barred from the detention facility.