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Israel: Anti-boycott law violates human rights and further undermines Israeli democracyposted on: 2011/07/18

EU must unequivocally condemn the law

APRODEV, the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN), Front Line Defenders, the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders - a joint programme of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) - and the Quaker Council for European Affairs are extremely concerned about the 'Law for Prevention of Damage to the State of Israel through Boycott – 2011' (anti-boycott law). This new law, which was adopted by the Israeli Knesset (Parliament) by a majority of 47 to 38 votes on 11 July 2011 constitutes another attack against freedom of expression and association in Israel.

The anti-boycott law prohibits calls for a “boycott of the state of Israel” by Israeli citizens and organisations, and, in some cases, agreement to participate in a boycott.

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Israel: UPDATE- Human rights defender Ameer Makhoul convicted by Israel and will be sentenced in Decemberposted on: 2010/10/29

Human rights defender Mr Ameer Makhoul was convicted of being involved in espionage operations with the Lebanese group Hizbullah. According to a statement from the Israeli Justice Ministry, Mr Ameer Makhoul confessed to, and was found guilty of espionage and aggravating espionage by the Haifa district court. He also pleaded guilty to charges of contact with a foreign agent and conspiracy to aid the enemy in time of war. While he was found guilty of the former, the state dropped the charge of assisting the enemy in time of war. Ameer Makhoul will be sentenced in December.

Front Line concerned following reports of increased restrictions on assemblies and demonstrations in the West Bankposted on: 2010/07/29

A new Position Paper published by Israeli human rights organisation B'Tselem, “The Right to Demonstrate in the Occupied Territories”, has criticised recent measures adopted by the Israeli authorities which have a severe impact upon the rights of residents in the Palestinian territories of the West Bank to carry out peaceful demonstrations.

Israel: Update - Legal proceedings against human rights defender Mr Ameer Makhoulposted on: 2010/06/23

Further to the Front Line Appeal sent on 26 May 2010, Front Line has received the following new information with regard to the detention of human rights defender Mr Ameer Makhoul in Israel: On 13 June 2010, a preliminary hearing was held in the case of Ameer Makhoul at Haifa District Court, following the submission of an indictment on 27 May 2010 against Ameer Makhoul before said Court by Israeli State Prosecutors, charging him with assistance to the enemy in a time of war, conspiracy to assist an enemy, aggravated espionage, and contact with a foreign agent.

Israel: Detention of Mr Ameer Makhoul Renewedposted on: 2010/05/13

Front Line is concerned following reports that the detention of Mr Ameer Makhoul has been renewed for six further days.

Brussels: Joint NGO letter criticises new Israeli legislation limiting work of human rights organisation in Israel and the OPTposted on: 2010/03/11

Aprodev, CIDSE, Front Line, the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN), the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT) and the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint program of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), are concerned about the recent attempts of the Israeli government to restrict the space and freedom of Israeli civil society organisations to operate in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT).

Israel / OPT - UPDATE - Extension of detention period for human rights defender Mr Mohammad Othmanposted on: 2009/10/30

Front Line learned today that detained Palestinian human rights defender Mr Mohammad Othman has had his detention period extended. On 27 October 2009 an Israeli military court ruled that Mohammad Othman's detention should be extended for an additional 13 days. Mohammad Othman has so far been held in solitary confinement for 37 days. No charges or evidence have been brought against him.

Israel: Human rights defender Ezra Nawi sentenced to one month in prison following protests at the destruction of Palestinian homesposted on: 2009/10/22

Israeli human rights defender Ezra Nawi was sentenced in the Jerusalem magistrate’s court yesterday to one month in prison after being found guilty of attacking two police officers during a protest against the destruction of Palestinian homes in the West Bank two years ago.

Israel: Supreme Court upholds decision to ban Palestinian human rights defender Shawan Jabarin from travelling - UPDATEposted on: 2009/03/11

The Israeli Supreme court decided on Tuesday to uphold a decision to ban Palestinian human rights defender, Shawan Jabarin, from travelling to Amsterdam in the Netherlands to receive the Geuzenpenning Award.

Jerusalem: Open letter to the Defense Minister and the Commander of Military Forces in the West Bankposted on: 2009/03/05

Today [3 March], 10 human rights organisations in Israel wrote to the Defense Minister and the Commander of Military Forces in the West Bank, sharply protesting against the denial of freedom of movement of Shawan Jabarin, Executive Director of the Palestinian human rights organisation al-Haq. Since Jabarin was appointed, in 2006, Israel has not allowed him to leave the West Bank. The organisations called for the prohibition on Jabarin’s exiting the West Bank be lifted. Otherwise, he will be prevented from obtaining a prestigious award for al-Haq’s work in advancing human rights.

Israel: Arrest and ill-treatment of human rights defender Issa ‘Amroposted on: 2008/01/29

Front Line is deeply concerned following reports of the arrest and ill-treatment of human rights defender Issa ‘Amro on 19 January 2008. Issa ‘Amro is a field-worker with B'Tselem - The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories.