Dear Tarek and Tobias,
We hope you are enjoying a well-earned break after everything you have been through.
Everybody in the ISM would like to convey how much we appreciate all your hard work that you have put in over the past year. It has been invaluable in much of the work the movement has been doing.
Unfortunately, we have some bad news. We have been in contact with the ISM's lawyers who have told us that the Israeli state has requested that the court hearing be moved forward as a matter of urgency.
There is only one way to interpret this: the Israeli state knows it is going to win the case. The four lawyers working on the case have therefore unanimously decided to drop your appeal. We have been told that this decision was reached after considering that even if you were to be allowed in the country for the court proceedings, you would have to leave as soon as you lost the case.
On the other hand, there is a positive side. Shamai is of the opinion that as you have left the country voluntarily, if you come back at some point in the more distant future, there would be a strong case for you to win any appeal against the state if the Ministry of the Interior refused you entry. This is based on:
a) Judge Clean's ruling that you did nothing wrong during your stay here
b) The approval given to this verdict by the Supreme Court, and denying the state's appeal against your release from detention
The news that the lawyers have dropped the case will doubtless come as a disappointment to you. Nevertheless, we think you will agree that there are still grounds for optimism should you wish to return to Israel/Palestine to continue the work.
Kind Regards
International Solidarity Movement