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Prof. Norman Finkelstein (AP)
Last update - 01:06 25/05/2008
Israel denies entry to high-profile critic Norman Finkelstein
By Yossi Melman, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Shin Bet, Israel 

The Shin Bet security service detained and deported an American Jewish professor who is a prominent critic of the Israeli occupation when he landed at Ben-Gurion International Airport on Friday.

Professor Norman Finkelstein was interrogated for several hours and held in an airport cell before being put on a plane back to Amsterdam, his point of departure. Finkelstein said he was told he could not return to Israel for 10 years.

The Shin Bet said Finkelstein "is not permitted to enter Israel because of suspicions involving hostile elements in Lebanon," and because he "did not give a full accounting to interrogators with regard to these suspicions."
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However, in e-mail and phone interviews with Haaretz after leaving Israel for Amsterdam, Finkelstein said, "I did my best to provide absolutely candid and comprehensive answers to all the questions put to me. I am confident that I have nothing to hide. Apart from my political views, and the supporting scholarship, there isn't much more to say for myself: alas, no suicide missions or secret rendezvous with terrorist organizations. I've always supported a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders. I'm not an enemy of Israel."

Finkelstein visited Lebanon a few months ago and met with Hezbollah operatives there, and subsequently published articles.

Finkelstein, 55, has accused Israel of exploiting the Holocaust for political ends. He recently left DePaul University following pressure by Jewish organizations and individuals, including Professor Alan Dershowitz.

He also said in the interview that he was "en route to Palestine to see one of my oldest and dearest friends, Musa Abu-Hashhash."

Finkelstein said he was asked whether he had met with Al Qaida operatives, whether he had been sent to Israel by Hezbollah and how he intended to finance his stay in Israel.

"I was kept in a holding cell at the airport for approximately 24 hours. It wasn't a Belgian bed-and-breakfast, but it wasn't Auschwitz either. I had several unpleasant moments with the guards at the airport and in the holding cell, but since martyrdom is not my cup of tea, I'll spare you the details," Finkelstein said.

He said he eventually used a cellphone belonging to another detainee and called another friend he was scheduled to see in Israel, the journalist Allan Nairn, who called attorney Michael Sfard. Sfard met with Finkelstein and told him he could appeal the ban; however, Finkelstein said he has been to Israel at least 15 times and declined to appeal.

Sfard on Saturday said banning Finkelstein from entering the country "recalls the behavior of the Soviet bloc countries."

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      1.   How incredibly stupid 20:47  |  Marilyn 24/05/08
      2.   Israel has no use for this pitiful excuse of a man. 20:56  |  The Equalizer 24/05/08
      3.   What about the right of Return ? 20:58  |  A proud Israeli Jew 24/05/08
      4.   Persona non Grata 20:58  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 24/05/08
      5.   we don`t want him back! Keep him in middle east! 21:04  |  Avram 24/05/08
      6.   marylin 21:06  |  Avram 24/05/08
      7.   High-profile traitors 21:06  |  Shmuelshachor 24/05/08
      8.   Finklestein 21:07  |  Michael 24/05/08
      9.   It`s a comment on Israel, not Finkelstein 21:08  |  Colin Wright 24/05/08
      10.   Res Ipsa Loquitur 21:09  |  Rowan 24/05/08
      11.   PUSHING THE ENVELOPE 21:11  |  Brant 24/05/08
      12.   Some Democracy! 21:11  |  wibism 24/05/08
      13.   keep him out. he is not welcome, no reason to allow in. 21:12  |  ralph 24/05/08
      14.   Finklestein 21:16  |  Michael Caplan 24/05/08
      15.   Avram in Fort Bragg 21:16  |  wibism 24/05/08
      16.   By the way, what is a "Hezbollah operative"? 21:18  |  Rowan 24/05/08
      17.   we are going nuts 21:23  |  shamir 24/05/08
      18.   Re the Equalizer #2 `Israel has no use...` 21:23  |  Colin Wright 24/05/08
      19.   Censorship 21:24  |  Sean 24/05/08
      20.   Great - Israel Finally Does Something Right 21:24  |  Tod Zuckerman 24/05/08
      21.   Israel has lost the argument when it behaves like this 21:28  |  Milo 24/05/08
      22.   Finkelstein and Depaul 21:29  |  Daniel 24/05/08
      23.   #3 21:29  |  Peter 24/05/08
      24.   finkelstein 21:30  |  michel 24/05/08
      25.   I thought Israel was a Democracy 21:30  |  Markus 24/05/08
      26.   finky go home 21:31  |  boris 24/05/08
      27.   @the Equaliser 21:31  |  jerrym 24/05/08
      28.   Israeli Jew, you may be proud but you`re very stupid 21:32  |  Freethinker 24/05/08
      29.   FINALLY AN ACT OF NATIONAL DIGNITY!! 21:33  |  Freethinker 24/05/08
      30.   A great mistake !!!! 21:33  |  Mary 24/05/08
      31.   wibism, your posts are so predictable I could write them for you 21:36  |  Freethinker 24/05/08
      32.   Israel has right of refusing entry 21:38  |  Ben Kobi 24/05/08
      33.   Finelstein 21:39  |  Tuhes 24/05/08
      34.   Stormin` Norman 21:42  |  graanan315@aol.com 24/05/08
      35.   Finkelstein should learn a lesson 21:45  |  Wendy 24/05/08
      36.   Israel`s standard response to opponents of annexation 21:49  |  Ken Levy 24/05/08
      37.   Perhaps Jewish by birth but... 21:49  |  Jay Colbe 24/05/08
      38.   kol ha kavod for letting me ask about "operatives" 21:50  |  Rowan 24/05/08
      39.   A sign of tremendous (political and moral) weakness..... 21:52  |  Swiss (Dino) 24/05/08
      40.   Bravo 21:52  |  joe smith 24/05/08
      41.   Norman Finklestein A Jew? 22:04  |  Ben Kobi 24/05/08
      42.   aussie scientists 22:07  |  Shmuelshachor 24/05/08
      43.   Fink too hot for "Light unto Nations" 22:10  |  fink_supporter 24/05/08
      44.   Frankenshtein 22:11  |  Motke 24/05/08
      45.   What the heck did he forget here? 22:15  |  msh 24/05/08
      46.   DOES NOT DESERVE TO SET FOOT IN THE LAND OF ISRAEL 22:17  |  david 24/05/08
      47.   The World need more Finkelsteins 22:20  |  Dav 24/05/08
      48.   To the #25 `the democrat` 22:25  |  msh 24/05/08
      49.   To the #25 `the democrat` 22:25  |  msh 24/05/08
      50.   Next time it`s Olmert 22:31  |  Andre 24/05/08
      51.   Should have been prosecuted 22:31  |  Daniel 24/05/08
      52.   Nice Holocaust reference 22:33  |  Sharon 24/05/08
      53.   Wonderul 22:35  |  LA 24/05/08
      54.   Daniel in Cambridge 22:43  |  wibism 24/05/08
      55.   Freethinker could write my posts 22:46  |  wibism 24/05/08
      56.   Ben Kobi 22:48  |  wibism 24/05/08
      57.   MARKUS AND DEMOCRACY 22:51  |  Brant 24/05/08
      58.   Abu Hash-Hash? 22:52  |  FOX 24/05/08
      59.   KEEP THIS SELF HATING JEW OUT OF ERETZ ISRAEL 22:58  |  don 24/05/08
      60.   Graanan don`t hold your breath 22:58  |  wibism 24/05/08
      61.   Markus, on Democracy 23:01  |  FOX 24/05/08
      62.   Yha, and I Want to go to Mecca! 23:10  |  FOX 24/05/08
      63.   markus in the usa 23:11  |  scallywag 24/05/08
      64.   To # 11 Finkelsteins and Papes agenda 23:14  |  Gromek 24/05/08
      65.   COME TO JAKARTA 23:15  |  indrajaya 24/05/08
      66.   What a democracy...!! 23:19  |  Paul Jan Petersen 24/05/08
      67.   A besieged Israel is not obliged to welcome those - 23:20  |  nacl 24/05/08
      68.   that is fair 23:21  |  gideonsway 24/05/08
      69.   #3 Right of Return and #19 Censorship 23:26  |  DesMnsDave 24/05/08
      70.   Milo, of course we r insecure #21 23:27  |  FOX 24/05/08
      71.   why didn`t you do that to Jimmy Carter 23:28  |  POP