Israel Accuses Palestinian Rights Groups of Terrorism | World News

JERUSALEM (AP) – Israel on Friday declared six prominent Palestinian human rights groups to be terrorist organizations, saying they were secretly affiliated with a left militant movement.

It was not immediately clear what the distinction would mean for the groups. Most of the targeted groups document alleged human rights violations by Israel and the Palestinian Authority, both of which routinely detain Palestinian activists.

The named groups are Al-Haq, a human rights group founded in 1979, as well as the Addameer Rights Group, Defense for Children International-Palestine, the Bisan Center for Research and Development, the Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees, and the Union of Agricultural Working Committees.

The Israel Defense Ministry said they were affiliated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a secular, left-wing movement with a political party and an armed wing that has carried out deadly attacks against Israelis.

The ministry’s statement was released during the Israeli and Palestinian weekend. Representatives of the organizations concerned were not immediately available for comment.

Political cartoons about world leaders

Political cartoons

The Defense Ministry said the groups “form a network of organizations operating covertly on the international front on behalf of the Popular Front to support its activities and advance its goals.” and recruit its members, including some who have “participated in terrorist activities”.

The groups serve as the “central source” for funding the PFLP and would have received “large sums of money from European countries and international organizations” without going into detail.

The spokesmen for the European Union delegations in Israel and the Palestinian Territories did not immediately respond to requests for comments.

The Palestinian Authority condemned what it called a “disorderly attack” on Palestinian civil society.

“This deceptive and slanderous libel is a strategic attack on Palestinian civil society and the fundamental right of the Palestinian people to oppose the illegal occupation of Israel and expose its continuing crimes,” a statement said.

The Israeli human rights group B’Tselem described the government’s declaration as “an act characteristic of totalitarian regimes with the clear aim of closing these organizations”.

“B’Tselem stands in solidarity with our Palestinian colleagues, is proud of our work together over the years – and is consistently continuing it.”

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.