Hebrew U reinforces security over Lara Alqasem’s arrival
Ahead of arrival of US student accused of belonging to BDS movement, the Hebrew University reinforces its security; fellow student: 'she shouldn’t be here'; Hebrew University: 'we look forward to welcoming our newest student.'
The Hebrew University has stepped up its campus security Sunday evening, ahead of the arrival of Lara Alqasem, a US graduate student who was detained upon entering the country because of alleged involvement in the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
Yehuda, a law student, told Ynet: “There are some students here that thought this was a political war played behind her back, while others thought that those who turn against the State of Israel have crossed a red line. I personally think that after the court has ruled—we have to align with its ruling.”
“However, from what I read in the verdict, she shouldn’t be here. The court chose to ignore and neglect important details. She is presented as the head of a small neglectable student organization, but if we are to fight the boycott movement, then it is permissible to harm people for that purpose,” the student continued.
“It’s important to say that it wasn’t such a big deal in the faculty. There were some inner debates in WhatsApp groups, but not much more,” he concluded.
Lara Alqasem, 22, flew to Israel on Oct. 2 on a student visa to pursue her graduate studies at Hebrew University. However, she was refused entry by security officials who cited her role as president of a small local chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine at the University of Florida.
The Supreme Court ruled last Thursday that Alqasem will be allowed to stay in the country.
"The call for participation in a boycott against the state is likely to be considered as encouragement to participate in illegal activity.... There is no dispute that between 2014 and 2017, Alqasem was a member of a student organization and for two years served as its president," Justice Erez Yekuel explained then in his ruling.
Supreme Court Judge Neil Hendel wrote that the state is correct in its intentions but not in its implementation, explaining that combating BDS is admirable and defending a democracy is part and parcel of democracy. However, Hendel asserted, preventing Alqasem’s entry does not serve the purpose of the anti BDS law passed by the Knesset.
However one justice wrote that if Alqasem "returns to her old ways" and promoted a boycott while she was in Israel her stay could be cancelled and she could be expelled.
Following the verdict, the Hebrew University, which supported Alqasem in her struggle to enter the country, released a short statement. "The Hebrew University of Jerusalem looks forward to welcoming our newest student, Lara Alqasem, as she begins her master's degree in Human Rights & Transitional Justice at our law school next week."
Minister of Interior Aryeh Deri responded to the ruling calling it a disgrace. “Where is our national pride? Would she have dared act against the United States while seeking to study there? I intend to examine how to prevent this incident from setting a precedent,” he said.
