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by Philip Weiss for Mondoweiss

Today we received the email below from Munther Fahmi, the 57-year-old bookseller born in Jerusalem but stripped of his residency and threatened with deportation. We helped out Fahmi's petition drive last spring. So now Fahmi gets to stay in the city he was born in. We celebrate, but cannot help noting the savagery latent in this note.

My dear friends and supporters,

I am thrilled to announce that the Government of Israel has accepted the Israeli Supreme Court recommendation that my residency be reinstated. I have been granted 2 years' residence on the basis of a Jerusalem Identity Card, and pending good behavior, shall receive permanent residence thereafter.

I am deeply indebted to all of you and extremely grateful for your kind support during this year of particular uncertainty. There is still much work to be done for resolution in line with international law for the 130,000+ Palestinians whose residency has been revoked by the Government of Israel.

With Best Wishes,

Munther Fahmi

The Bookshop at The American Colony Hotel