Israeli top court hears HRW activist's deportation appeal

Israel’s Supreme Court is hearing the appeal of the local director of Human Rights Watch to reverse his deportation order.

A lower court in April ordered Omar Shakir to leave the country, saying his activities against Israel’s West Bank settlements amount to a boycott of the country. Israeli law bars entry to those who publicly support a boycott of Israel or its West Bank settlements.

Human Rights Watch says neither it nor Shakir has called for an outright boycott of Israel. It says Shakir, who is a U.S. citizen, is being targeted for the rights group’s opposition to Israel’s West Bank Jewish settlements and its calls for companies to stop working with the settlements.

Tuesday’s hearing had been delayed for months and was not expected to issue an immediate ruling.