authoritarianism

Palestinians take part in a protest over the killing of activist Nizar Banat, in the West Bank city of Hebron, July 2, 2021. (Wisam Hashlamoun/Flash90)

PA admits fault for activist’s death — then continues assaults on critics

The Palestinian Authority has taken responsibility for Nizar Banat's killing, but its crackdown has only escalated since, in some cases amounting to torture.

By Dima Abumaria July 27, 2021

Palestinians take part in a protest following the death of Palestinian activist Nizar Banat who died a short time after being arrested by Palestinian Authority force, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, June 24, 2021. (Flash90)

As protests grow, the PA turns its repression on Palestinian journalists

Journalists report being targeted with violent assaults, phone theft, and verbal threats amidst the Palestinian Authority's crackdown on West Bank protests.

By Dima Abumaria July 6, 2021

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during a tour in the West Bank city of Ramallah, May 15, 2020. (Flash90)

Elections or not, the PA is intensifying its authoritarian rule online

The run-up to PA elections has alarmingly shown what Palestinian political activism is facing in the digital age: more surveillance, more repression.

By Marwa Fatafta April 29, 2021

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Palestinians protest against the agreement to establish diplomatic ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, September 15, 2020. (Flash90)

Normalization cannot silence Arab resistance forever

Israel will one day have to face Arab opposition to its alliances with dictators who care little for the people under their rule.

By Samah Salaime October 13, 2020

Protestors during anti-government demonstrations in Hong Kong, July 1, 2018.

Why are ‘anti-imperialists’ defending dictators?

By echoing the narratives of repressive regimes, left-wing 'tankies' are forcing targeted activists to spend energy combating smears and disinformation.

By Elia Ayoub September 16, 2020

Shimon Peres seen with Nicolae Ceaușescu during a visit to Bucharest, in 1985. (Moshe Milner/GPO)

Israel embraced Romanian dictator’s support — knowing he was anti-Semitic

Nicolae Ceausescu believed in racist conspiracy theories about Jewish power and extorted Romania's Jews. That didn't stop Israel from keeping warm relations with his regime.

By Eitay Mack December 3, 2019

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to the media at the Knesset, in Jerusalem on May 30, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Behind Netanyahu’s scorched earth campaign against Israel’s media

Just one week out from the second national elections in six months, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s relationship with the Israeli media seems to be at an all-time low. But are his ferocious attacks on the press all they seem? In the final stretches of Israel’s second election campaign in six months, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s tried-and-tested tactic…

By Natasha Soffer-Roth September 9, 2019

Dareen Tatour speaks with her attorney, Gaby Lasky, outside the Haifa courtroom where her trial was taking place. (Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)

+972’s Story of the Year: The trial of Dareen Tatour

The surreal arrest and trial of a Palestinian poet symbolizes a crackdown on free speech, surveillance on social media, and rising authoritarian trends in Israel. +972’s Story of the Year for 2017. By +972 Magazine For the past year and half, a strange and disturbing drama has been playing out in a Haifa courtroom. In…

By +972 Magazine December 31, 2017