UPDATE: CH Resident to be deported

Israel’s attorney general has ordered an Israeli-American deported to the United States due to fears by security forces that he could carry out acts meant to derail Israel’s planned evacuation of 25 Jewish settlements, the Haaretz daily reported Wednesday.

The American, Saadia Hirschkop, 18 from Crown Heights, N.Y., agreed to be deported for 40 days instead of serving jail time for the period, the daily said.

Hirschkop and two other extremists were arrested earlier this week at the funeral of an Israeli who had shot in killed four Israeli Arabs in an apparent effort to stop the pullout. The three were ordered placed under administrative detention, a procedure allowing arrest without trial and usually reserved for Palestinians authorities fear could carry out attacks.

Israeli intelligence feared the three were planning attacks against Arabs, Haaretz said. Another one of the three is Israeli-Canadian but did not agree to be deported for the 40 days and instead will serve jail time, the newspaper said.

Hirschkop will be allowed to return to Israel at the end of the 40-day period. He is a student at a religious seminary in Kfar Chabad in central Israel.

Israel is slated to begin next week dismantling 21 settlements in the Gaza Strip and four in the northern West Bank. Jewish settlers and their supporters have mounted a large campaign to prevent the withdrawal and authorities fear some could resort to violence.

Correction
Saadia Hirschkop was not arrested at the funeral.