Bethlehem University Petitions Israel for Compassion for Gaza Student
(02 Nov 09 - RV) A petition has been filed in Israeli courts against last week’s
deportation of Gaza born Bethlehem University student Azzam Berlanty.
In
the petition, University officials appealed to the government of Israel on compassionate
and humanitarian grounds to allow Ms. Berlanty Azzam to return to Bethlehem to complete
her studies.
She has not been accused of being a security threat and
has committed no crime, but was deported because she was born in Gaza.
Diana
Buttu is an international human rights lawyer based in Washington DC and Palestine.
She says that the situation highlights a growing divide between Israeli
and Palestinian youth who see each other only in the context of soldier-civilian actions.