Expulsion of French-Palestinian detainee 'clouds' relations with Israel, diplomats say
The French Foreign Ministry criticized Israel for deporting French-Palestinian lawyer Salah Hamouri, shortly after ending his nine-months’ administrative detention, and without letting him appeal the expulsion.
French diplomatic sources told Al-Monitor on Monday that the expulsion of Palestinian-French detainee Salah Hamouri has added to existing concerns in Paris and within the European Union leadership over the incoming ultra-Orthodox/far-right Israeli government of Benjamin Netanyahu.
The affair clouds Israel-French relations as Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to establish his new government, the sources said on condition of anonymity.
The French Foreign Ministry slammed Israel for the expulsion of Palestinian-French detainee Salah Hamouri, who was held without a charge since March, and was deported to Paris on Sunday.
Hamouri arrived on Sunday at the Paris airport after Israeli authorities ordered him to leave the country. Hamouri had been in administrative detention since March. This month, Israel’s Interior Ministry said Hamouri would be released and that his Jerusalem residency would be revoked. Without Israeli citizenship, Jerusalem residency or a visa, Hamouri was expected to be deported immediately upon release.
