HUNDREDS of professors and Jewish professionals worldwide have signed a petition demanding that Israel release a US student held at its international airport for the last seven days.

Lara Alqasem, who has Palestinian grandparents, landed at Ben-Gurion airport on October 2 with a valid student visa.

The 22-year-old was due to begin studying for a master’s degree at Jerusalem’s Hebrew University, but on arrival was stopped by immigration officers and questioned about her political activities and ethnic heritage.