Israeli court scolds Irish Nobel laureate for propaganda during her deportation hearing

Israeli judge scolds Nobel winner for propaganda

JERUSALEM — An Israeli Supreme Court has chastised an Irish Nobel peace laureate for calling Israel an “apartheid state” during her deportation hearing.

Mairead Corrigan Maguire is under a 10-year ban from entering Israel because of her attempt to breach the Gaza naval blockade aboard a vessel in June. She was detained last Tuesday upon landing at Tel Aviv international airport but appealed the move and asked the court to allow her into Israel to join a human rights delegation.

Maguire’s remark about apartheid during her hearing Monday prompted Justice Asher Grunis to tell her to keep her “propaganda” to herself.

The government opposed a court-proposed compromise that Maguire be allowed to join the delegation for two days and then leave. The court is expected to rule later Monday.