Israel Turns Chomsky Away

Political activist-critic Noam Chomsky was refused entry into Israel on Sunday. He was to have delivered a lecture at the Bir Zeit University near Jerusalem.

A prominent supporter of the Palestinian cause and a harsh critic of Israeli policy, Chomsky was given no specific reason for the denial. —JCL

AP via Google.com:

Interior Ministry spokeswoman Sabine Haddad said Chomsky was turned away for “various reasons” but declined to elaborate. Chomsky was trying to cross the Allenby Bridge from Jordan. He was scheduled to deliver a lecture at Bir Zeit University in the West Bank.

Haddad said her ministry was looking into allowing him to enter only the West Bank.

Chomsky told Channel 10 TV from Jordan Sunday: “I’ve often spoken at Israeli universities.”

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Flickr / houze

A graffiti-style portrait of Noam Chomsky in Atlanta.