political persecution

Abdel Rahim Haj Yahya in his home in Tayibe after his release from prison, where he spent 27 months for social media posts. (Oren Ziv)
A Palestinian influencer spent 27 months in Israeli prison — for social media posts
Abdel Rahim Haj Yahya, an Israeli citizen, was convicted of incitement to terror soon after October 7. He is convinced it was because of his large following.
By Baker Zoubi and Oren Ziv February 10, 2026
Aida Touma-Suleiman podcast graphic
PODCAST: ‘Israel is using organized crime to control Palestinian citizens’
MK Aida Touma-Suleiman reflects on a decade inside the Knesset, and the limits of trying to fight from within a system built to exclude Palestinians.
By +972 Magazine January 22, 2026
An Israeli soldier is seen among the destruction caused by Hamas militants in Kibbutz Nir Oz during their October 7 raid, southern Israel, October 30, 2023. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
How October 7 has changed us all — and what it signals for our struggle
It can be hard to recognize a historic moment while living through it, but this time in Israel-Palestine, it’s plain for all to see. Here’s what we know, and what we can surmise, one month on.
By Haggai Matar November 8, 2023
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Israel's chief of police Kobi Shabtai is seen flanked by other police officers responding to an alleged terror attack in the Jewish settlement of Ma’aleh Adumim, outside of Jerusalem, August 1, 2023. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
‘This is political persecution’: Israel cracks down on internal critics of its Gaza war
Palestinians, as well as some left-wing Jews, are being suspended from studies, fired from jobs, or arrested at night — all because of social media posts.
By Ghousoon Bisharat, Oren Ziv and Baker Zoubi October 17, 2023
An activist uses a cellphone to live stream as Israeli police forces block Palestinians at an entrance to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City, July 26, 2015. (Faiz Abu Rmeleh/Activestills)
For Palestinians, social media influence comes with the threat of prison
The persecution of activists like Ramzi Abbassi illustrates Israel’s escalating attempts to stifle Palestinian expression online since May 2021.
By Sophia Goodfriend October 2, 2023
Israeli activist Jonathan Pollak seen in the Magistrate's Court in Jerusalem, arrested as part of an unprecedented private suit by Ad Kan, January 7, 2020. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
Arrest of Israeli activist shows extreme-right group working with the state
Anti-occupation activist Jonathan Pollak's arrest could only have come about as a result of coordination between the police, the courts, and the extreme-right group suing him.
By Oren Ziv January 8, 2020
eft-wing activist Ezra Nawi is led into the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court, January 21, 2016. (Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)
The persecution of Ezra Nawi
The fabrication of criminal cases against activists, particularly anti-occupation activists, has become an almost routine tool. Every one of us could find themselves the target of a similar right-wing campaign. Two years ago, Israeli officials, right-wing activists, and the media put veteran left-wing activist Ezra Nawi in their crosshairs. After an investigative television show partnered…
By Orly Noy May 28, 2018
https://mekomit.co.il/%d7%94%d7%9e%d7%a2%d7%a6%d7%a8-%d7%a9%d7%9c-%d7%a8%d7%90%d7%99%d7%93-%d7%a1%d7%9c%d7%90%d7%97-%d7%94%d7%95%d7%90-%d7%9e%d7%a2%d7%a6%d7%a8-%d7%a4%d7%95%d7%9c%d7%99%d7%98%d7%99/
Why Jewish Israelis should stand with the head of Israel’s Islamic Movement
I’m no supporter of Sheikh Raed Salah, but as Jewish Israelis we have an enormous responsibility to state loudly and clearly that which our privilege still permits us. That means opposing political persecution when we see it. Two years ago Israel outlawed one of the largest popular associations in the country, the Northern Branch of…
By Orly Noy August 15, 2017
Palestinian men wait for their documents and belongings to be inspected by the Israeli army at a checkpoint outside the West Bank city of Bethlehem, March 19, 2017. (Anne Paq/Activestills.org)
Blacklists and travel bans aren’t new in Israel — the targets are
Palestinian activists and others have long faced actual travel bans, blacklists, and political persecution. Nevertheless, that some of the same methods are now being used against Israeli and American Jews is a worrying sign. One of the Israeli government’s senior-most ministers said last year that Israeli BDS advocates must be made to pay a price…
By Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man March 22, 2017
Culture Minister Miri Regev speaks at the 2016 Ophir Awards. (Yotam Ronen/Activestills.org)
Palestinian culture is flourishing — thanks to Miri Regev
Each attempt to silence Palestinian artists only makes our voices grow louder. It’s time to admit that Miri Regev is the best thing to happen to Palestinian culture since Israel’s founding. Period. I generally do not tend to write about the Mizrahi struggle and what kind of effect Regev is having on it. But in my eyes…
By Samah Salaime October 18, 2016
A pride flag at a protest against government incitement against Palestinians and the LGTBQ community in Israel, August 8, 2015, Tel Aviv. (Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)
When homophobia becomes a tool for political persecution
The campaign against the Left in Israel reaches a new low: a planned protest at the wedding of an anti-occupation group’s director and her wife-to-be. It shows that when dissent is characterized as treason, there is no area of one’s life that is off-limits. It’s a clear sign of the times when protesting at someone’s wedding…
By Natasha Soffer-Roth January 25, 2016
Israeli left-wing activists march to protest the recent incitement against "Breaking the Silence" and other left wing NGOs, in central Tel Aviv, December 19, 2015. (photo: Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)
The Israeli Left must realize it is at war
When will the Jewish Left wake up and come to terms with the fact that the rules of the game have changed? It seems that even the most skeptical of radical left-wing activists in Israel were taken by surprise by the aggressive, relentless, and mounting attacks that we have witnessed over these past few days…
By Orly Noy January 20, 2016
File photo of police blocking the entrance to a building in Tel Aviv. (Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)
Police target second ‘Breaking the Silence’ event in a week
Senior police brass hound venue over minor business license violations. Police shut down a similar Breaking the Silence event last week citing right-wing threats against it. For the second time in a week, Israeli police have imposed restrictions on Breaking the Silence lectures scheduled to take place in private venues. The owners of those venues…
By Haggai Matar November 30, 2015
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