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Middle East Eye
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Palestinians in Israel adopt politics of silence in the face of expanding state persecution
From the earliest days of the genocide in Gaza, Israeli society quickly aligned itself with the aggressive rhetoric of its politicians, fuelling the state's crackdown on Palestinian citizens. Many Israelis took it upon themselves to incite violence, humiliate Palestinians, and even call for the arrest of Palestinian citizens who expressed outrage over the unfolding atrocities in Gaza. Palestinians within the Green Line understood the new reality, and responded by adopting a politics of silence. They avoided political discourse with Israelis, restricted or deleted their social media presence, and severed ties with Israeli acquaintances amid widespread incitement. As harrowing images emerged from Gaza, Palestinians inside Israel saw the extent of public support for Israeli war crimes, and realised that with the right political climate, nothing would stop the state from taking extreme measures against them - including a return to the military rule they endured from 1948 to 1967, or worse, mass expulsion. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters They saw parliamentary debates over revoking citizenship for Palestinians, deporting people to Gaza, restricting political representation in the Knesset, and otherwise stripping away fundamental civil rights. As fewer Palestinians engaged in public political debates or Israeli news panels, right-wing groups shifted their focus. They began monitoring Arabic-language media and social media platforms, actively searching for Palestinian citizens expressing political opinions that deviated from the Israeli consensus - specifically, those condemning the genocide. Once identified, these individuals became targets of incitement campaigns and institutional crackdowns. Chilling reality Last week, Palestinian comedian Nidal Badarneh was detained and questioned by Israeli police under the pretext of 'posing a danger to the public'. Badarneh had been pushed by right-wing groups to cancel his performances in Israel, after they accused him of making light of the situation of Israeli captives in Gaza. Meanwhile, journalist Saeed Hassanain was dismissed from his position as a football announcer after publicly lauding Hamas for its treatment of Israeli captives, and denouncing the Israeli army. Soon afterwards, Israeli police raided his home and arrested him. Follow Middle East Eye's live coverage of the Israel-Palestine war An Israeli judge subsequently extended Hassanain's detention, stating: 'After reviewing the case, I find that the question of whether these statements constitute praise or identification with a terrorist organisation, incitement, or merely an opinion that does not align with the national consensus will be examined further during the investigation.' This highlights a chilling reality: the Israeli judiciary now operates according to the prevailing political atmosphere, rather than the law itself. The settler right now wields enough influence to push through fundamental changes in state institutions Israel's legal and law enforcement systems have fully adapted to this new reality - a transformation that began more than a decade ago, but reached its peak with the rise of the settler right wing. Whether through representation in Israel's ruling coalition, gaining key ministerial positions, or the growing popularity of Religious Zionist politicians in general, the settler right now wields enough influence to push through fundamental changes in state institutions. This was evident in how former National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir tightened his grip on the police force, reshaping it to align with his ideological vision. Meanwhile, Justice Minister Yariv Levin has advanced judicial reforms aimed at weakening the courts, while Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich continues to cut funding and services for Palestinian citizens within the Green Line. Precarious position These shifts have placed Palestinian citizens of Israel in an increasingly precarious position. Lacking independent institutions to protect them or represent them on the international stage, they remain vulnerable within an Israeli society that has actively participated in, or supported, the devastation in Gaza. Every political expression - once legally protected - is now scrutinised, and any statement can lead to incitement campaigns or arrest. More alarmingly, within Israeli society, Palestinian citizens are seen as the only ones who can potentially 'absolve' Israelis of their moral burden. Many Israelis seek validation that, despite the horrors in Gaza, Lebanon and the broader Arab world, there are still Arabs willing to understand and forgive them. Israel's crackdown on Palestinian citizens could lead to return of military rule Read More » Yet, despite their political and economic vulnerability and their dependence on the Israeli economy, Palestinian citizens are refusing to provide this absolution. They are taking a principled stand against war and bloodshed - an act that frustrates many Israelis, who still view themselves as the ultimate victims. Israeli political culture has long treated Palestinian citizens as a fifth column, but until recently, there were at least legal safeguards protecting their individual rights. As the political landscape shifts, so does Israel's approach to all Palestinians, from the river to the sea. A weakened judiciary and a politicised police force have allowed the extreme right's agenda to gain traction. A particularly concerning indicator is the fact that three-quarters of Israelis now support the mass expulsion of Palestinians. If we exclude the 20 percent of Palestinian citizens from the equation, this means that nearly the entire Jewish public in Israel supports ethnic cleansing. There is little to prevent these ideas from being implemented, not only in Gaza, but also in the occupied West Bank and against Palestinian citizens of Israel. Aligning with Zionist history, Israel and its citizens still cling to the belief that every problem can be solved through brute force. But as they become increasingly violent, their actions reveal not strength, but deep-seated insecurity. The current wave of persecution against Palestinian citizens is a testament to that weakness. The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Eye.
Middle East Eye
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Why the persecution of Palestinian citizens is a sign of Israel's weakness
From the earliest days of the genocide in Gaza, Israeli society quickly aligned itself with the aggressive rhetoric of its politicians, fuelling the state's crackdown on Palestinian citizens. Many Israelis took it upon themselves to incite violence, humiliate Palestinians, and even call for the arrest of Palestinian citizens who expressed outrage over the unfolding atrocities in Gaza. Palestinians within the Green Line understood the new reality, and responded by adopting a politics of silence. They avoided political discourse with Israelis, restricted or deleted their social media presence, and severed ties with Israeli acquaintances amid widespread incitement. As harrowing images emerged from Gaza, Palestinians inside Israel saw the extent of public support for Israeli war crimes, and realised that with the right political climate, nothing would stop the state from taking extreme measures against them - including a return to the military rule they endured from 1948 to 1967, or worse, mass expulsion. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters They saw parliamentary debates over revoking citizenship for Palestinians, deporting people to Gaza, restricting political representation in the Knesset, and otherwise stripping away fundamental civil rights. As fewer Palestinians engaged in public political debates or Israeli news panels, right-wing groups shifted their focus. They began monitoring Arabic-language media and social media platforms, actively searching for Palestinian citizens expressing political opinions that deviated from the Israeli consensus - specifically, those condemning the genocide. Once identified, these individuals became targets of incitement campaigns and institutional crackdowns. Chilling reality Last week, Palestinian comedian Nidal Badarneh was detained and questioned by Israeli police under the pretext of 'posing a danger to the public'. Badarneh had been pushed by right-wing groups to cancel his performances in Israel, after they accused him of making light of the situation of Israeli captives in Gaza. Meanwhile, journalist Saeed Hassanain was dismissed from his position as a football announcer after publicly lauding Hamas for its treatment of Israeli captives, and denouncing the Israeli army. Soon afterwards, Israeli police raided his home and arrested him. Follow Middle East Eye's live coverage of the Israel-Palestine war An Israeli judge subsequently extended Hassanain's detention, stating: 'After reviewing the case, I find that the question of whether these statements constitute praise or identification with a terrorist organisation, incitement, or merely an opinion that does not align with the national consensus will be examined further during the investigation.' This highlights a chilling reality: the Israeli judiciary now operates according to the prevailing political atmosphere, rather than the law itself. The settler right now wields enough influence to push through fundamental changes in state institutions Israel's legal and law enforcement systems have fully adapted to this new reality - a transformation that began more than a decade ago, but reached its peak with the rise of the settler right wing. Whether through representation in Israel's ruling coalition, gaining key ministerial positions, or the growing popularity of Religious Zionist politicians in general, the settler right now wields enough influence to push through fundamental changes in state institutions. This was evident in how former National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir tightened his grip on the police force, reshaping it to align with his ideological vision. Meanwhile, Justice Minister Yariv Levin has advanced judicial reforms aimed at weakening the courts, while Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich continues to cut funding and services for Palestinian citizens within the Green Line. Precarious position These shifts have placed Palestinian citizens of Israel in an increasingly precarious position. Lacking independent institutions to protect them or represent them on the international stage, they remain vulnerable within an Israeli society that has actively participated in, or supported, the devastation in Gaza. Every political expression - once legally protected - is now scrutinised, and any statement can lead to incitement campaigns or arrest. More alarmingly, within Israeli society, Palestinian citizens are seen as the only ones who can potentially 'absolve' Israelis of their moral burden. Many Israelis seek validation that, despite the horrors in Gaza, Lebanon and the broader Arab world, there are still Arabs willing to understand and forgive them. Israel's crackdown on Palestinian citizens could lead to return of military rule Read More » Yet, despite their political and economic vulnerability and their dependence on the Israeli economy, Palestinian citizens are refusing to provide this absolution. They are taking a principled stand against war and bloodshed - an act that frustrates many Israelis, who still view themselves as the ultimate victims. Israeli political culture has long treated Palestinian citizens as a fifth column, but until recently, there were at least legal safeguards protecting their individual rights. As the political landscape shifts, so does Israel's approach to all Palestinians, from the river to the sea. A weakened judiciary and a politicised police force have allowed the extreme right's agenda to gain traction. A particularly concerning indicator is the fact that three-quarters of Israelis now support the mass expulsion of Palestinians. If we exclude the 20 percent of Palestinian citizens from the equation, this means that nearly the entire Jewish public in Israel supports ethnic cleansing. There is little to prevent these ideas from being implemented, not only in Gaza, but also in the occupied West Bank and against Palestinian citizens of Israel. Aligning with Zionist history, Israel and its citizens still cling to the belief that every problem can be solved through brute force. But as they become increasingly violent, their actions reveal not strength, but deep-seated insecurity. The current wave of persecution against Palestinian citizens is a testament to that weakness. The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Eye.
Middle East Eye
26-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Middle East Eye
Israeli police interrogate Palestinian comedian over stand-up shows
Israeli police briefly detained and questioned Palestinian artist and comedian Nidal Badarneh on Monday over his stand-up shows, according to his family. His home in Haifa was raided, and the Palestinian citizens of Israel was taken in for investigation under the pretext of "posing a danger to the public," the family told Arab48 news outlet. The arrest followed calls from far-right Israeli groups to cancel his shows, including one in Nazareth last Friday. Israeli officers also reportedly pressured gallery owners to cancel his performances without legal grounds. Another show in Haifa was cancelled by police to "preserve the safety of the audience," with far-right groups claiming the show addressed Israeli detainees in Gaza. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters His family believes the arrest is part of a broader campaign against Badarneh, fuelled by far-right incitement. They accused police of targeting him through threats to cancel his shows. "This arrest comes as a result of a fierce fascist media incitement campaign against Nidal and the comedic artistic content he presents," they said. 'The police anywhere in the world don't engage in this form of 'bullying,' but it seems they're acting based on the incitement of the far-right' - Nidal Badarneh, comedian Badarneh had previously spoken to Arab48, saying Israeli police warned him not to perform in Nazareth. He criticised the police for bypassing the law and acting as a "body separate from the law". "They told me word for word, 'It's not good for you to come to Nazareth, and if you hold the show, we will take action and not allow you to do so,'' the comedian said. "The police anywhere in the world don't engage in this form of 'bullying,' but it seems they're acting based on the incitement of the far-right. The bans on the shows in Haifa and Nazareth have no legal basis." Badarneh plans to take legal action, working with Adalah, a Haifa-based legal centre, to protect his rights and continue his work. The centre sent an urgent letter to the Israeli attorney general last week urging intervention to stop the targeting of Badarneh. "The police have recently been exploiting this charge extensively to investigate violations of freedom of expression illegally and to avoid obtaining the required approvals from the Public Prosecution,' the centre said. Silencing dissenting voices Adalah also highlighted that the "unlawful" political persecution of Badarneh was part of a wider effort to suppress Palestinian expression in Israel since 7 October 2023. This has led to nearly 200 incitement charges and numerous illegal arrests aimed at intimidating artists and halting their performances. Palestinian citizens of Israel brace for extremist attacks as incitement spreads Read More » On Wednesday, Israeli police raided the home of a journalist and former game announcer for the Bnei Sakhnin football club, Saeed Hassanain. The Palestinian citizen of Israel was arrested on suspicion of "incitement" after criticising Israel and the army's actions during an interview with Al-Aqsa TV. He stated, 'The IDF is an occupying army, Israel is the enemy." Hassanain denounced Palestinian citizens of Israel who enlisted in the army, calling them "weak-minded". He also praised Hamas for how they treated captives held in Gaza, saying: "The Islamic Resistance acted with complete humanity according to Islamic law and proved to the world that Hamas preserves human dignity and respects the women who were captured on 7 October. Hamas defended them according to religious teachings, Islamic law, and Palestinian conscience." Hassanain's remarks caused public anger in Israel, leading to his dismissal as the Bnei Sakhnin's announcer and his arrest.
Middle East Eye
07-02-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Israel accused of torturing Palestinian workers to death
Palestinian workers detained during the Hamas-led attack on 7 October 2023 were abused by Israeli prison guards, with some of them tortured to death or disappeared, according to testimonies collected by a Palestinian trade union. Wehbe Badarneh, the legal advisor to the Arab Workers Union, told news outlet Arab48 that they had submitted an inquiry to Israeli security and military centres regarding the whereabout of 46 Palestinian workers from Gaza following their disappearance on 8 October 2023. The Israel Prison Service gave the Palestinian union a vague response confirming the deaths of 34 workers who died inside detention centres under "mysterious circumstances or from heart attacks". Badarneh explained that until 7 October 2023, 18,000 Palestinians from Gaza were in Israel with work permits. However, after the attack, the Israeli authorities withdrew work authorisations for Palestinians from the occupied West Bank and Gaza. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Badarneh said that while it was easier for those coming from the West Bank to go back, the situation was much more difficult for workers from the besieged enclave. "A state of chaos prevailed in the border area between Israel and Gaza, called the 'Gaza Envelope', and there was confusion there and no one knew who the workers were and who the infiltrators were after the walls were breached and collapsed," Badarneh told Arab48. "Because of this chaos, the Gaza workers were scattered, some of them feared returning to Gaza, some of them found refuge in the West Bank, and some of them were detained, arrested and brutally and horribly abused at the military checkpoints in retaliation for the events that took place in the Gaza Envelope." Palestinians raped and tortured in Israeli detention, says prisoners group Read More » According to Badarneh, hundreds of workers from Gaza were transferred to Israeli-run prisons, including the infamous Sde Teiman and Ofer detention centres, which have been exposed for the conditions and abuses Palestinians abducted from Gaza experienced. At first, the Arab Workers Union received numerous complaints and requests from Palestinians who had lost contact with their loved ones, Badarneh said. "When the number of these complaints reached hundreds, we saw that the issue was serious and that it was no longer about some individuals," he added. The union contacted several Israeli authorities and services, but its requests for information were met with indifference and contempt. However, that did not stop the group from persevering in its efforts. "We did not leave a single door untouched," Badarneh said. "Yes, we went to the Supreme Court, and as a result, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz published a report on the subject." The journalist who worked on the report was later told by a spokesperson for the Israeli military that the bodies of some workers who were killed at the checkpoints were transferred to Gaza for burial via the Erez checkpoint. 'Horrific forms of torture' Some of the Gaza workers who took refuge in the West Bank and were hosted in a Palestinian military college in Jericho gave some information about those who had been abducted. According to their testimonies as well as videotapes that were circulating at the time, detained Palestinian workers were subjet to brutal beatings, stripping and various methods of torture. As a result, the union came to the conclusion that the Palestinian workers had been tortured to death in Israeli detention. Israel-Palestine war: Workers from Gaza describe torture and abuse in Israeli detention Read More » Subsequently, it submitted a report to trade unions in Europe, where members suggested joining complaints filed against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). "Workers from Gaza were also summoned to Geneva to testify before the International Labour Organisation, despite all the difficulties and restrictions," Badarneh added, in reference to the obstacles to free movement imposed by Israel. A number of previous investigations and reports, including testimonies gathered by Middle East Eye, appear to corroborate Badarneh's statement. 'We were tortured, no one had mercy on us. They took our money and clothes, they left us naked for three days while they tortured us. We were hungry, they kicked and punched us, stepped on our heads, until now I am in pain,' one worker told MEE in November 2023. That same month, Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor revealed that thousands of labourers from Gaza were subject to "horrific forms of torture" by Israeli forces during their four-week captivity. "The testimonies state that the workers suffered from unprecedented levels of abuse, including being left without food and water for several days, being tortured, electrocuted and burned, as well as being sexually harassed and purposefully humiliated by urinating on their bodies," Euro-Med reported. The organisation added that many Palestinian workers were also abused by their employers, who refused to pay salaries, spit on them and subjected them to humiliation and insults.
