Irish Republican News · October 4, 2010

Israel deports Irish Nobel laureate

Irish Nobel Peace Prize winner Mairead Corrigan Maguire is to be deported from Israel following a ruling by Israel’s Supreme Court.

Ms Maguire has been held in an airport detention facility in Tel Aviv since her arrival there last Tuesday.

Ms Corrigan was visiting Israel and the Palestinian West Bank as part of a women’s fact finding mission looking at the work of Palestinian and Jewish female peace activists. U

Upon arrival in Ben Gurion airport, Ms Maguire was informed she could not enter Israel and was subsequently dragged by four male security guards to the door of a British-bound aeroplane, whereupon she peacefully sat on the floor, refusing to move.

Ms Maguire reported that the manhandling had caused bruises under arms. She refused to board to the plane as her legal representatives had submitted a petition to the courts contesting the deportation.

The National Chairperson of the Irish Palestinian Solidarity Committee, Freda Hughes said: “Ms Maguire has always proven herself to be an honest broker for peace in situations of conflict resolution. She has a proven track record of bravery in campaigning for human rights in conflict stricken areas.

“We commend her action in refusing deportation and strongly condemn this latest outrageous action by the Israeli state against an international peace activist. Ms Maguire has proven herself to be not only a good to the Palestinians but also to Israelis in her open and honest approach to dedication to achieving a just a sustainable peace in the region.”

Ms Hughes concluded: “It is through unjustifiable actions such as this that Israel is seeing its true Apartheid nature exposed to the world time and again.

“It is no surprise that people of conscience the world over are increasingly viewing Israel as Apartheid South Africa was once viewed.

“This week saw the Irish Artist’s Pledge to Boycott Israel reach 180 signatures as Stephen Rea and Sharon Shannon both endorsed it. Actions such as this attempted deportation only help to convince people of the necessity of boycotting Israel.”

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