Israel

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Israel

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In this 7 February 2003 file photo, an Israeli soldier stands in front of a closed computer store as he conducts document checks of Palestinians in the southern West Bank town of Hebron, AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, File

Israel, Facebook and the fight for Palestinian digital rights

Having a Facebook profile in Palestine means not only being targeted by Israel’s algorithm and censored by the platform itself, but also facing the threat of the Palestinian Authority’s new Electronic Crimes Law.

Palestinians check the entrance of Transmedia company after it was closed by the Israeli army in the West Bank city of Hebron, 18 October 2017, REUTERS/Mussa Qawasma

Israeli forces raid, shut down Palestinian media offices

The most recent attack included the shutting down of three media production companies and their branches in Ramallah, Nablus, Hebron, and Bethlehem. Israeli forces stormed their headquarters, destroying and confiscating equipment in an attempt to silence the Palestinian media.

Israeli security forces remove metal detectors which had been installed at the entrances to the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City, 25 July 2017, REUTERS/Ammar Awad

Israeli forces target journalists, raid media offices in midst of Aqsa crisis

MADA has expressed concern over the recent attacks on journalists and the raid on the offices of PAL-Media in Ramallah and a number of other media agencies.

A Palestinian demonstrator holds an anti-Donald Trump poster during a protest in support of Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike in Israeli jails, near the West Bank city of Ramallah, 22 May 2017, REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman

Israel: Palestinian prisoners’ hunger strike against practice of administrative detention continues

The month-long hunger strike by more than 1,500 Palestinian prisoners in protest at their conditions of detention highlights the need to end the practice of administrative detention, PEN International said. The prisoners include writers and journalists, including Muhammad al-Qiq.

An Israeli soldier pushes a Palestinian photojournalist during a protest in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike in Israeli jails near the settlement of Shavei Shamron close to the West Bank city of Nablus, 16 May 2017, AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed

AP photographer shot covering West Bank protest

CPJ called on Israeli authorities to apprehend and try the man who shot Associated Press photographer Majdi Mohammed in the hand and killed a Palestinian protester near the northern West Bank city of Nablus.

A May 2016 photo showing the Al Qiq being hugged by his sister in the West Bank town of Dura the day he was released. He has since been rearrested, REUTERS/Mussa Qawasma

Palestinian journalist Mohammed Al Qiq arrested – again

Al Qiq, previously detained and released after a harrowing 93 days of hunger strike, has been rearrested by Israeli authorities. He has again resorted to hunger striking as a form of protest.

“Hate speech” by Carlos Latuff, Image via Wikimedia, released to public domain.

Israel’s new ‘Facebook bill’ threatens free speech

The Israeli Knesset passed a first reading of a controversial new bill that would allow courts to remove online content it deems “inciting”.

“Hate speech” by Carlos Latuff, Image via Wikimedia, released to public domain.

Israel’s new ‘Facebook bill’ threatens free speech

The Israeli Knesset passed a first reading of a controversial new bill that would allow courts to remove online content it deems “inciting”.

Link to: October 2016: MADA records 22 violations against press freedom in Palestine

October 2016: MADA records 22 violations against press freedom in Palestine

According to the Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA), October in Palestine witnessed the lowest record of press freedom violations since the beginning of the year.

Image courtesy FB Censors Palestine, a Facebook Page that protests the Israel-Facebook agreement.,  https://www.facebook.com/FaceBCensorsPalestine

Facebook-Israel agreement could change face of social media

Agreements between countries and social media companies loom as one of the most significant threats to free expression around the world.

Israeli border policemen detain a Palestinian journalist during clashes with Palestinian protesters near Israel's Ofer Prison near the West Bank city of Ramallah August 3, 2016.,  REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman

August 2016: A particularly discouraging month for media freedoms in Palestine

In its monthly incident report for August, the Palestinian Center for Developments and Media Freedoms (MADA), monitored violations committed against media freedoms by Israeli forces and the Palestinian authority. Violations committed in August exceeded those that took place in any other month since the start of 2016.

Omar Nazzal , PJS/IFJ

Palestinian journalist suffers from Israel’s exploitative administrative detention policy

Palestinian journalist Omar Nazzal was arrested on 23 April and detained without trial. He has been on hunger strike since 4 August 2016 in protest against his detention as well as the abusive administrative detention policy that allows for suspects to be interned for indefinite periods of time without charge.

A demonstrator waves a Palestinian flag in front of Israeli soldiers during a protest in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, in the West Bank village of Nabi Saleh, near Ramallah August 12, 2016,  REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman

The long arm of the Israeli occupation?

Detainment by Israeli forces has long been a peril faced by human rights workers in Palestine. But death threats reaching all the way to Europe may also be creating a new reality for activists beyond Palestine’s borders.

Link to: Palestinian rights defenders seeking accountability at the ICC threatened

Palestinian rights defenders seeking accountability at the ICC threatened

New anonymous death threats have been made against staff members of a Palestinian human rights organization advocating an investigation by the International Criminal Court into alleged war crimes in Palestine.

Link to: New Israeli NGO law targets human rights groups critical of government

New Israeli NGO law targets human rights groups critical of government

The law, written in a way to exempt many organizations that support government policies and settlement activities, including those that receive foreign private donations, sets back freedom of association in Israel.

Link to: Palestinian photojournalist held without charge by Israel

Palestinian photojournalist held without charge by Israel

The Palestinian journalist was arrested for alleged Hamas-related activity, an Israeli security official told CPJ. As of May 17, 2016 no charges had been brought against Naser and his detention had been extended four times for questioning, the journalist’s lawyer, Saleh Ayyub, told CPJ over the phone.