Gaza flotilla activists released after groundbreaking victory against deportation in Israeli court

(pic: Australian Gaza Flotilla 2 participants Syvia Hale, Vivienne Porzsolt and Michael Coleman. Photo by Pip Hinman)

From Green Left

In breaking news, Palestine activists Sylvia Hale and Vivienne Porzsolt have been ordered by an Israeli court to be released from imigration detention and not deported.

The judge ruled that they had not broken any rules, but they have a limited time to apply to the Israeli Defence Force to visit Bethlehem and Ramallah in the West Bank. The pair had told immigration on entry to Israel that they wanted to visit Palestine.

Activists are hailing this decision as ground breaking: more than 100 Palestine solidarity activists have been deported in previous days from Tel Aviv airport for requesting to visit Palestine.

As NSW Greens MP David Shoebridge said: "This case has set a precedent with the court holding that simply because a person wants to visit Palestine is not sufficient basis for them to be deported from Israel". more

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