Slippery Slope

A new report by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) concludes that people and organizations with economic means use libel (SLAPP) suits to silence criticism. Attorney Avner Pinchuk, the report’s author, claims that “the primary effect of these law suits is not legal but public: a silencing of criticism leveled against the plaintiff, and harming of those who interfere with his affairs. (ACRI)

(Hebrew – Haaretz)

Rabbi Elitzur Segal was convicted of insulting a public servant after he penned an article which criticezed the IDF’s Chief Rabbi. (Arutz7)

(Hebrew – Haaretz)

The Ministry of Justice has published a bill proposal, which would allow the state to instruct internet service providers to block access to various websites, without requiring a court order. (Haaretz)

(Hebrew – Calcalist)

According to the 2012 Report on the State of Human Rights in Israel and the OPT, compiled by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI), the police, in an unprecedented move, summoned activists to illegal questioning sessions about their plans for future protests and even about the content of the protest signs they planned to hold.  The police also set unlawful and unreasonable demands as preconditions for a demonstration permit.  In addition, this year again saw reports of police officers refusing to identify themselves during demonstrations, a violation of police regulations, as well as many reports of officers dispersing demonstrations and arresting demonstrators without legal cause and with the use of excessive force. (ACRI)

(Hebrew – ACRI)

The blogger who operates the blog “Eishton” is under investigation by the Military Police Criminal Investigations Department following a post he published about suicides in the IDF and the shortfalls of the Defense Ministry and IDF in memorializing fallen soldiers. (Haaretz)

(Hebrew – Haaretz)

According to the 2012 annual report on the state of human rights in Israel, compiled by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI), new regulations were adopted in Tel-Aviv and Jerusalem which significantly limit the right to protest, by requiring special permits in order to set up tents as well as for other protest actions.  In Tel-Aviv, the municipality acted in an unequal manner toward activists with different agendas.  In Jerusalem, a protest encampment set up by social activists was dismantled, while its occupants’ personal belongings were confiscated. (ACRI)

(Hebrew – ACRI)

The Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) has written to the President of Haifa University, Amos Shapira, following his decision to suspend public activities on campus.  The Association claims that the decision is an disproportionate attack on freedom of expression and is in violation of the university charter and past court decisions.

(Hebrew – News1)

The Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court has acquitted a woman who was arrested for holding up signs in front of the Maaleh Edumim Police station in demonstration of the station’s failure to process complaints she filed.  The Court determined that the demonstration comes under the framework of protection of freedom of expression and the right to protest.

(Hebrew – News1)

The IDF is pressuring Attorney-General Yehuda Weinstein to indict “Jenin, Jenin” director Mohammed Bakri for libel, despite the failure of previous attempts to indict him for the same charge. (Haaretz)

(Hebrew – Haaretz)

The Police is summoning social activists who participated in last year’s social protests for interrogation, without informing them of the reason for the interrogation. (Ha’aretz)