Published: 8 November 2019
Last updated: 4 March 2024
By expelling Human Rights Watch director, Israel's top court legitimises the occupation (Haaretz)
The court's ruling to revoke Omar Shakir's residency and work visa exemplifies the slippery slope Israel is on due to its control of the West Bank, and the court's failure to stop it
The Supreme Court’s ruling to cancel the residency and work visa of a Human Rights Watch director is another step toward legalising the occupation and silencing its legitimate opponents. Effectively, what the justices said on Tuesday was that it’s permissible to protest a small, localised injustice, but the state is entitled to silence anyone who protests a large, sweeping injustice.
Israel can deport Human Rights Watch official, court rules (Guardian)
Court backs expulsion of Omar Shakir for allegedly promoting pro-Palestinian boycotts
Israel’s highest court has upheld the government’s decision to deport the local director of Human Rights Watch (HRW) for his alleged support for a boycott movement, ending a long-running landmark case that questioned the country’s ability to expel its critics.
LISTEN: Interview with Omar Shakir (ABC)
Human Rights Watch director denies supporting BDS in interview with ABC Radio National
Israel’s decision to deport human rights defender will further alienate American Jews (Forward)
Israel to expel human rights worker, citing anti-boycott law (NYT)
Rejecting an appeal by a United States citizen, Israel’s Supreme Court ruled that his visa should not be renewed.
Photo: Omar Shakir, Human Rights Watch representative in Israel and Palestine before his hearing at Israel's Supreme Court in Jerusalem September 24, 2019 (Ammar Awad/Reuters)
