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 On January 16, she was brought before a judge, who deported her on the basis that her visa was no longer valid; she was physically deported on January 20.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.