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Israeli closure of Palestinian organisations condemned

October 7, 2016 at 9:00 pm

Media and educational organisations in the cities of Umm Al-Fahm and Nazareth were closed and their property was seized by Israeli police yesterday based on claims that the organisations belong to the Islamic Movement, which was banned on 17 November 2015.

Israeli police also claimed that these organisations contribute to aggravating and escalating the atmosphere in Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque. The police’s actions were widely condemned by political circles.

In a statement, the Freedoms Committee, which stems from the High Follow-Up Committee for Arab citizens of Israel, said: “Everyone must know that these organisations in particular, along with the Islamic Movement, have not been operating since its ban.”

“These three organisations, in addition to 23 others that were banned, are all organisations and associations that are separate entities that provide various services to our people. Their only crime is that their management includes individuals who have religious orientations.”

“How can an organisation, such as Midad Psychometry that prepares students to pass the psychometry exams, attended by thousands of secondary school students, contribute to tension in Al-Aqsa?” the group asked.

The committee’s statement also mentioned that “the right-wing government, led by Netanyahu, is behind the decision, and it still persecutes activists from the Palestinian Democratic Union and questions MKs Haneen Zoabi and Jamal Zahalka.”