High Court: Gaza student cannot complete studies in West Bank

... that will surely help improve the country's image in the West! Betty Azzam's story has been broadcasted and published all over European newspapers.

Prayers were held last week in several Parisian churches for Betty Azzam. Many people who had never, ever felt concerned about the region suddenly wondered how come Israel is allowed to persecute Christians in the Holy Land where Jesus once lived. Letters were sent to the Pope, asking hin to take immediate action. The behavior of Israel is disgusting.

n 1935, the Nuremberg Laws were passed. The Jews lost their right to be German citizens and marriage between Jews and non-Jews was forbidden. Just because its a law, it doesn't mean that it's right.

The media represents this as a tragedy which perhaps on an individual level it is, but as for justifying it, its quite simple. If there was no terrorism there would be no restrictions on movement or changing of adresses. These are security measures which were made necessary by the worst wave of terrorism against a civilian population in history. On an individual basis this isnt fair but the responsibility lies with your people.

Obviously you have no sympathy for a young Palestinian girl trying to complete her education. Her denial is a direct result of a 42 year illegal, harsh and humiliating occupation of the girl's land. If Israeli Jews had any sense of human decency, or sympathy for such innocent civilians, the occupation would not still be in effect. You may travel where you wish in East Israel. But if you travel in the West Bank you will not be in Israel, you will be in Palestinian occupied territory. Violations of the Oslo agreement did not provide for lose of authority for the PA any more than it provided for loss of authority for the Israeli gov't. One glaring example of Israeli violation of the agreement, and one which affects this girls life, is the agreement that the "West Bank and Gaza are recognized as one entity." When the girl returns to Gaza she will have trouble finding enough to eat. The Israeli genocidal blockade of Gaza is a war crime; article 33, 4th Geneva Convention.

we see the High Court has a sense of law, indeed, but it has no sense of fair use of the law. Science without consience is the ruin of the soul. The High Court has shown lack of conscience, knowing what is legal without knowing what is right. and then we wonder why Palestinians want Israel demolished, destroyed, eradicated for ever and ever. plus this damning story reflects very badly on Jews generally, such as myself out in the galut, who are perceived as preventing learning (a cherished ideal of Jewish culture...).

I haven't heard back yet. But if you're interested in helping, send a message to the AAI. The political problems can be overcome. Rafah still exists. And the US has influence with Egypt.

Franz Kafka must be 'turning over' in his grave!

I would gladly join you in helping finance her coming to the US to complete her education. Unfortunately she would be prevented by Israel from leaving Gaza to come to the US. A young friend of mine in Gaza recently won the Green Card Lottery to come to the U.S. but Israel refused to allow him to go to the US Embassy or Consulate in Israel or Jerusalem to complete the process. Remember the Fullbright Scholars last year? Israel refused to let them leave Palestine to study in the U.S. That's what Apartheid regimes do. Its what America did with its slaves, what South Africa did with its native population, and what Israel does with its Arab population and with the Palestinians.

You are the one sane and good human being on this comment board! Thank you for restoring my faith in humanity!

Why should we be sympathetic? For one Israelis are forbidden from traveling in East Israel so why is this person any different? She lives in Gaza and the PA have no authority after they violated OSLO.

It might seem unfair but this has got to be looked on from a LEGAL standpoint not an emotional one. Fair or unfair she BROKE THE LAW. The law as it stands right now is she was not allowed to live in Judea & Samaria only go there to study. If we turn a blind eye or bend the law for this woman because we feel sorry for her doesn't that mean that whenever we have somebody with a sob story who we feel sorry for we must turn a blind eye of bend the law. When does the time come when we say no if we operate like that?

and wher precisely is palestine ?

legality arises from the acceptance of jurisdiction and the ability to enforce law ! wher does cj propose to appeal against this reality ??

It is what it is, immoral and illegal to occupy and oppress. You can cut it and slice it a 100 different ways but at the end of the day it is wrong. We all reap what we sow and Israel is sowing the seeds of it's Own destruction.

Ok, dear TSK, I would advise to look deep thought and try listen to your self. You are justifying destroying the career and a lively hood of a girl who is trying to educate herself. You are using the same old line, Palestinian are terrorist, Iran is helping them take us out, Iraq before that, Egypt before that, and so on and so forth, this is broken record and you know it, the Game that Israel ha s been playing for years, we all know this. Every now and then, an incident like this occurs which brings back make every one think is this right? And they ugly truth rises up again ?occupation?, then people like you who have been feed these lies come to the rescue, and show their twisted logic. Listen, Occupation is occupation, every nation has the right to resist when there is stolen, and one small note, God never worked for remax, meaning he does not give land to people. That is a lie and you know it, don?t bee fooled.

She applied many times for the change of address. Why not deny her the right to stay then? Why wait until she has nearly completed her studies? Power for the sake of power. How proud all Israelis must feel of such petty decisions. The iron fist of inhumanity and smallmindedness.

I think the USA should not only facilitate her admission to our country, but do so openly and help her get admitted to Notre Dame or Georgetown or one of our other more prominent private universities. I, personally, am willing to contribute to the costs and have written so to BU and the AAI. This is a spiteful and downright mean-spirited decision.

The legal 'niceties" of this case are irrelevant. This judgement is stunningly crass and obscene and runs dead against every moral fibre of Judaism. It is affront to Nefesh Yehudi - the Soul of the Jew. Since when have we Jews stopped learning!? What on earth has happened to our High Court? I hope that the ruling is reversed with immediate effect - for the sake of Israel's mental well being as well as the Student from Gaza

This the real meaning of occupation. The use of power of one group over another, purely for the purpose of humiliation. No rationality. Except maybe from the Israeli point of view, whereby they can continue to antagonise the Palestinian population and then blame them if they out of sheer frustration they respond aggressively. Also by making life in the territories intolerable for the Palestinians, the Israeli authorities are, de facto, forcing them into exile. After some years abroad the Israel can then cancel Palestinians right to return even to Gaza and the West Bank.

This is a harsh result. Israel ought to create an exception process for cases like this. After all, what harm would it do to let this young lady complete her degree program?

how do you come up with such a ridiculous analogy? the connection between London and Italy and that of the west bank and Jerusalem isn't even comparable!!! Jerusalem is part of Palestine

annexed territories. Israeli Civil Law is not the Law. It's a criminal farce, perpetuated by a bunch of sick fascists, with the help of the US veto vote in the UNSC. Legally only Military Law applies in "territories occupied" ( Laws of War Article 55. UNSC res 242. Geneva Conventions IV. UNSC Resolution 252 / 267 / 271 / 298 / 465 / 476 )

what the article doesn't mention is that since oslo, your leaders still have in the charter for YOUR cities the goal of the destruction of israel. since oslo, your leaders killed each other people and murdered innocent civilians and your own children for no good reason. gaza is iran sponsored terrorist city. it is very important for israel to be able to identify who is gazan. now i challenge anyone to stand up and explain why you shouldn't be fed iranian missles instead of food and medicine from taxpayers all over the world.

With two months to go, why couldn't the court say to the gov't, "you are legally right, you have the power to send her back, but let her finish her studies, fine her $100, and let her return home with dignity, a sense of accomplishment, and without additional resentment and hostility to Israel". Sending her back now is legal, but morally wrong. This is a situation where compassion could be exercised with such little cost.

You Israelis you come take our and kills us and prevent us to move between our OWN cities, I repeat our OWN Cities. I challenge any Israeli to Justify this to the world using this post. Show me what you have to say to this....if you dare.

by making peoples life miserable and sending them back to their misery? by sending a person who has chance to integrated in a society and be other than terrorist or the housewife who has no rights in his society? this is the worst thing to do politically. but law is law its not the judges fault! it should be changed... education is the only way to peace.

If i got a visa, as an american, to study abroad in london, and then went to study in italy for three years, got found out, and had to leave, i would say "i'm a human rights violation victim", i would say, "I should have gotten a permit to the city where my school is, not aa different city." this is very unfortunate, but apartheid? a person without legal permission to be in a place was in that place.

This case illustrates just how sick the only 'democracy' in the Middle East really is. To deny her the chance to complete her education, Israel has lived up to its reputation as an apartheid state. Disgusting!

I understand that rules are rules, and that to a bureaucrat a rule is a sacred thing, but it seems to me rather petty (to give the most favorable reading) not to allow her two more months, since there is no security risk.