Khan al-Ahmar rioters
Khan al-Ahmar riotersFlash 90

A professor with dual American and French citizenship who was arrested during a protest at an illegal Bedouin outpost slated for demolition was released on the orders of an Israeli court.

Frank Romano, 66, who was born in the United States but also holds French citizenship and teaches law at Paris Nanterre University, was released late Sunday on the orders of the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court.

Romano said after his release that, as reported Sunday, he had been turned over to the Population and Immigration Authority for immediate deportation, but that he had refused to sign a consent form, the French news agency AFP reported. He was then seen by a judge in the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court.

Romano reportedly returned to the outpost after his release and said: “I can continue the struggle with you.”

He reportedly will be allowed to stay in Israel until September 25, the scheduled date of his return flight.

Romano was arrested Friday during clashes between rioters and Israeli troops at Khan al-Ahmar, an illegally built Bedouin outpost located outside of Jerusalem near Maale Adumim. He was arrested with two Arab operatives for blocking a road and preventing Israeli security forces from doing their jobs.

In a rare move, Romano was arrested under military law rather than civilian law, which meant his detention could be extended from 24 hours to 96 hours without seeing a judge. He was then transferred on Sunday to the Interior Ministry’s Population Authority, which issued a deportation order against him, his attorney Gaby Lasky had told Israeli media.

“Like thieves in the night, instead of bringing Frank Romano to a hearing to free him from jail, which I requested and which was set for 4 p.m. in Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court, without notifying me or the court, at 2 p.m., police transferred him to immigration for deportation,” Lasky tweeted Sunday afternoon.

Last week, the Supreme Court rejected a petition by squatters to halt the demolition. An injunction against the demolition expired on Wednesday.

The Supreme Court had authorized the demolition in May, since the homes were built without permits. The July injunction called on the state to review a compromise offer drawn up by the locals that would legalize the outpost.