Kate Raphael Bender

Kate Raphael Bender is an American Jewish lesbian peace activist. After about a year in the Palestinian territories volunteering with Palestinian and international human rights groups, she was arrested December 14, 2004 during a peaceful protest against Israel's West Bank barrier, which took place in the West Bank village of Bilain. She was held in custody until her Israeli visa expired on January 15, 2005. During this time she attempted to get a hearing to fight deportation to the United States. On January 16, she was brought before a judge, who deported her on the basis that her visa was no longer valid; she was physically deported on January 20. As of March 2005, her deportation is under appeal.

References

• —, "San Francisco Activist Kate Raphael Bender Returns After Five Weeks in Israeli Detention" on the site of the activist group QUIT! (Queers Undermining Israeli Terrorism).
• Kalman, Matthew, "Activist for Palestinians accepts deportation from Israel; Bay Area woman jailed during protest of security barrier", San Francisco Chronicle, January 17, 2005.