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Palestinian rights group says Israel barred its director from travelling abroad
Israel stopped Shawan Jabarin, director of Palestinian human rights organisation Al-Haq, at the Allenby Bridge crossing on Friday and barred him from travelling to Jordan, the group said. Al-Haq says the restriction is politically motivated and connected to Jabarin’s human rights advocacy.
The group said Israeli forces questioned Jabarin about his journey before telling him he could not travel. It cited earlier restrictions, including a ban imposed in 2006 that remained in force for six years before being temporarily lifted in 2012, and said he was prevented from travelling to the Netherlands in 2009 to receive a human rights award. Al-Haq also referred to a warning call from Israel’s Shin Bet in 2022.
In short
- Al-Haq says Israel barred its director from travelling to Jordan.
- The group links the restriction to his human rights work.
- It cites previous travel bans and restrictions on Jabarin.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Al-Haq’s case is that barring its director from travel, against a record of earlier restrictions and a reported security-service warning, raises concern that authorities are using movement controls to impede human rights advocacy. Such restrictions can limit an organisation’s ability to engage internationally and should be supported by clear, reviewable reasons.
The case against
Israeli authorities may argue that travel restrictions are a legitimate security measure when based on specific, credible concerns, and that officials must be able to question travellers and prevent journeys where necessary. On this account, the restriction would concern an individual security assessment rather than an effort to suppress Al-Haq’s advocacy; the report does not provide Israel’s explanation or the basis for its decision.