Lara Alqasem, an American 22 years-old student of Palestinian descent, had been held at Israeli Ben Gurion Airport for more than two weeks for her pro-Palestinian past activism and support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement (BDS). On 19 October, Israel’s Supreme Court had finally overturned the US student’s deportation order, allowing her to enter the country. Her detention has to be understood within the framework of a new law approved last year by Israeli Parliament banning any foreigner who “knowingly issues a public call for boycotting Israel” from entering the country (Amendment No. 27 to the Entry Into Israel Law). As a response to Israel’s position, a group of some 300 academics published an article urging the Israeli authorities to allow Alqasem to enter Israel and pursue her studies in defence of academic freedom. The Hebrew University, where she will now start a Masters in Human Rights & Transitional Justice, has called on the authorities to allow her in to study and has supported her appeal.