ISRAELI HIGH COURT PROHIBITS BERLANTY AZZAM FROM

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 002239 SIPDIS NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE AND IPA; ALSO FOR ECA; NSC FOR KUMAR; JOINT STAFF FOR LTGEN SELVA E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/10/2019 TAGS: PHUM KWBG PREL KPAL IS SUBJECT: ISRAELI HIGH COURT PROHIBITS BERLANTY AZZAM FROM FINISHING STUDIES IN BETHLEHEM REF: JERUSALEM 2232 Classified By: Consul General Daniel Rubinstein for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (SBU) Summary. The Israeli High Court decided not to allow Palestinian college student Berlanty Azzam to complete her studies at Bethlehem University, following her arrest in the West Bank and removal to Gaza by the Israeli military on October 28. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) On December 9, Israel's High Court decided to uphold the Israeli military's decision to not allow Palestinian student Berlanty Azzam to complete her studies at Bethlehem University, following her arrest in the West Bank and removal to Gaza by the Israeli military on October 28. Azzam has no further legal recourse to appeal this decision (reftel). ¶3. (C) Brother Jack Curran, Vice President for Development at Bethlehem University, reported that Azzam now is considering applying for a permit from the Government of Israel (GOI) to complete the final two months of her studies and graduate from Bethlehem University. Sari Bashi, Executive Director of the NGO Gisha, which provided Azzam legal services, will request permission from the GOI next week for up to six additional Gazan students to study at Bethlehem and Birzeit Universities in the West Bank. RUBINSTEIN