An American student active in the movement to Boycott, Divest from and Sanction Israel actually wants to study there, but the Israeli government isn’t sure that’s a good idea. “The reactions of Jewish and Israel-related groups are mixed over Israel denying entry earlier this month to 22-year-old American BDS activist Lara Alqasem, whose case will be heard by Israel’s Supreme Court on Wednesday after the Tel Aviv District Court rejected her appeal on Friday,” the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS) reported on October 16, 2018.
The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) and The National Council of Young Israel support the Tel Aviv court decision. J Street put out a statement that “[She] poses no threat to Israel. But that’s not to say no damage is being done. The government’s treatment of Lara [Alqasem] and other critics of the occupation is doing serious harm to Israel’s reputation. It’s alienating Israel’s friends and providing ammunition to its enemies.”
