A US citizen working as an editor for a the Palestinian news agency Maan is appealing against Israel's refusal to allow him entry at Tel Aviv airport.

Jared Malsin has been detained since he returned from a holiday in Prague on Tuesday evening, his colleagues said.

Israeli security officials said security concerns had arisen when he was questioned, and the Interior Ministry had refused him entry.

Maan said a court hearing due on Thursday has been postponed to Sunday.

It said the decision could "only be explained as a retaliatory measure for his reporting on Palestine".

Mr Malsin, who Maan says is Jewish, is the English language editor for the news agency.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8458566.stm