Noam Chomsky denied entry into Israel and West Bank

Left-wing linguist, who was scheduled to speak at Bir Zeit University, told by Israeli inspectors at Allenby Bridge that a reason for the refusal would be sent to the American embassy.

Amira Hass reports:

Professor Noam Chomsky, an American linguist and left-wing activist, was denied entry into Israel and the West Bank on Sunday, for reasons that were not immediately clear.

Chomsky, who was scheduled to deliver a lecture at Bir Zeit University near Jerusalem, told the Right to Enter activist group by telephone that inspectors had stamped the words "denied entry" onto his passport when he tried to cross from Jordan over Allenby Bridge.

When he asked an Israeli inspector why he had not received permission, he was told that an explanation would be sent in writing to the American embassy.

Read the rest of the report at Haaretz.com.