Germany is “very concerned” over Israel’s decision to list six Palestinian civil society groups as terror organizations, a government spokesperson said on Wednesday, Anadolu News Agency reports.
“We have, of course, taken note of the reports and are in talks with our Israeli partners. From the perspective of the Federal Government, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as the ability of a strong civil society to act are decisive,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Andrea Sasse, said at a weekly government press conference in Berlin.
#UN Rights Commissioner: #Israel’s Designation is Unjustified Attack on #Palestinian Civil Society https://t.co/gxHO1Y1nAX via @PalestineChron pic.twitter.com/AlOHOTpceR
— The Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) October 27, 2021
“This is what we advocate for our partners, of course, also in the Near and Middle East. So we are very concerned about this Israeli decision,” she added.
Sasse urged Israel to provide more information regarding the basis for the designation.
“The listing of complete organizations as terrorist entities is a step of far-reaching political, legal and financial importance for the organizations themselves, as well as for their civil society environment. We, therefore, now expect further insights from the Israeli side,” she said.
Tel Aviv’s move also sparked criticism by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, who called the terror listing of the Palestinian NGOs an attack on human rights defenders, freedom of association and the right to public participation, saying the decision should be immediately revoked.
#Israel Replicates #SouthAfrica’s Heydays of #Apartheid Bannings https://t.co/gV67XZDro8 via @PalestineChron pic.twitter.com/ziHoFmTgSO
— The Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) October 27, 2021
The six groups Israel designated as terrorist organizations are Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees, Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, Bisan Centre for Research and Development, Al-Haq, Defense for Children International—Palestine and Union of Agricultural Work Committees.
(MEMO, PC, Social Media)
