As a result of our office’s intervention, a foreign journalist’s work visa was renewed, after the journalist’s request had originally been denied on grounds that she had praised the boycott of Israel and that she “supports terrorist organizations.”

Our office represents a foreign journalist with 25 years of experience in her field, who has been covering the Middle East for many years. Since 2011, she has been working as a journalist in Israel and the oPt.

The Ministry of Interior recently denied her request to renew her work visa.  In its decision, the Ministry of Interior argued that from information brought to its attention it learned that she is active in the BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) movement.

The Ministry of Interior’s claims were based exclusively on one misleading and biased article on the website of an organization called “Honest Reporting.”  The article links the journalist’s support of BDS to a meeting she had with an organization called the “Association France Palestine Solidarity” (AFPS) who, according to the Ministry of Interior supports the boycott of Israel.  The journalist did in fact meet with representatives of AFPS, but in her capacity as a journalist covering the Middle East and at the request of the organization.  Moreover, the meeting was held in March 2004, more than a year before the BDS movement commenced.

The Ministry of Interior also claimed that the journalist supported terrorist organizations like the Al Aqsa Brigade and called them “armed opposition groups against the occupation.” It is unclear where the quote, attributed to our client, was taken from.  Nor is it clear how the phrase “armed opposition groups against the occupation” translates into “support of terrorist organizations.”

The decision of the Ministry of Interior threatened to jeopardize freedom of the press, the freedom to work as a journalist and freedom of speech.  The Supreme Court of Israel recently addressed the issue of freedom of speech in the case of Lara Alqasem, where Ms. Alqasem, represented by our office, was denied entry into Israel based on claims similar to those raised here.

“Free speech is what gives life to democracy.  When a person’s right to free speech is jeopardized by section 2(d) of the law, even if the person is not a citizen or resident of Israel, the heart of Israeli society as a democratic society is injured.”

As a result of the appeal filed by our office, the Ministry of Interior retracted its original decision and decided to grant a one-year renewal of our client’s journalist visa.