Omar Shakir forfeited his right to live and work in Israel because he promoted a movement that seeks the Jewish state’s destruction.
By United with Israel Staff
Omar Shakir, who ran Human Rights Watch’s Israel office (HRW), is a proponent of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which is the reason he will be the first person deported under an Israeli law that permits removal of those who support anti-Israel boycotts.
Shakir, a U.S. citizen, worked out of of Ramallah, which is the capital of the Palestinian Authority and a hotbed for terrorist activities and anti-Israel propaganda.
“Not only was there systematic support for BDS [from Shakir] which continued after he began his work for the organization [HRW], his conduct surrounding FIFA, as well as his repeated calls for boycotting Israeli assets in the region, is based on a sweeping denial of the legitimacy of Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria,” noted Israel’s Supreme Court’s ruling. “This is a case in which a boycott was promoted only because of an affinity for the area [Israel] ─ as opposed to its conduct.”
Shakir’s deportation is based on statements he made, mostly on his own Twitter account, in support of the BDS movement before becoming director of HRW. These included backing Airbnb and Booking.com’s boycott of Israel. He is also a critic of Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, which are not illegal under international law according to Israeli precedent and U.S. policy.
Shakir denied ever supporting BDS and fought a lengthy legal battle against his deportation.
Earlier this month, Israel’s Supreme Court upheld the government’s decision to deport him.
Shakir’s removal received praise from right-wing factions in Israel an centrists like Blue and White politician Yair Lapid, according to The Jerusalem Post.
“All those who work against Israel must know that we will not let them live or work here,” Interior Minister Aryeh Deri said earlier this month.
Shakir left Israel on Monday evening.
