Israel’s Population Authority has revoked the aliyah approval of two Jewish activists in their 20s, both active in pro-Palestinian advocacy in the West Bank.
This was first reported by Haaretz on Monday, but The Jerusalem Post confirmed with one of the individuals – British national Lawrence Shenkin – that the details of the report are correct. The Post is set to speak with Shenkin later on Tuesday.
According to Haaretz, these are the first known cases in which the authorities “appear to be violating the Law of Return, which grants every Jew the right to immigrate to Israel.”
Shenkin grew up in a Modern Orthodox family in Golders Green. He was raised Zionist and has already lived in Israel for five years.
According to Haaretz, Shenkin joined the left-wing religious organization Bnei Avraham in 2023. As such, he has been involved in protecting Palestinian communities in the West Bank from alleged Israeli settler harassment.
‘What’s happening here is anti-Zionist’
The story of the other individual – an American woman – allegedly mirrors Shenkin’s.
While allegedly the Jewish Agency approved their applications initially, Israel’s Population and Immigration Authority is said to have overturned the decision.
Shenkin told Haaretz, “Because I’m left-wing, a lot of people don’t get that I’m religious.”
“For me, living in Israel is a biblical commandment. I have so much love for Israel, faith in Israel, and hope for it. The people in power right now are challenging that, but the principle stays the same.”
“What’s happening here is anti-Zionist. After all, the whole promise of Israel is that any Jew can move there simply because they’re Jewish. And now there’s this new idea that you have to support a certain agenda, or else we don’t want you.”
The Post reached out to PIBA and the Jewish Agency for comment.
