Israeli Govt Threatens To Shut Down Human Rights Group

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Staff writer, Al Arabiya English Wednesday, 18 May 2016
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Israel’s government is filing legal action against a local human rights group after it refused to reveal the identities of Israeli soldiers who alleged wrongdoing among the ranks during the 2014 Gaza War.

The government will demand next week in court that the group, Breaking the Silence, identifies the military personnel who gave anonymous testimonies of alleged crimes committed during the conflict, UK daily The Guardian reported on Wednesday.

The conflict, waged between Israeli forces and Hamas fighters, led to the deaths of over 2,000 people, many of them civilians.

The case comes after months of fierce debate on the human rights group by leading politicians and a public accusation of “treason” by the country’s defense minister.

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http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2016/05/18/Israeli-govt-threatens-to-shut-down-human-rights-group.html


Israel Action Threatens To Close Down Rights Group And 'Chill' Free Speech

A high-profile Israeli human rights group that publishes the anonymous testimonies of soldiers in the Palestinian territories is facing a court hearing that threatens to shut down its work in what is being viewed as a crucial test case for civil society.

The case, which will be heard in court next week, is being brought by the Israeli government, which is demanding that Breaking the Silence identify anonymous serving military personnel who have given it testimony relating to alleged crimes in the 2014 Gaza war. The group says this is likely to deter future potential testifiers coming forward.

The move follows months of attacks on the group by leading politicians as well as rightwing activists – including attempted infiltrations by figures posing as sympathisers and a public accusation of “treason” by the country’s defence minister.

Breaking the Silence staff and its legal team say the legal moves not only pose a threat to the group but also threaten to “chill” both free speech and human rights activism in Israel.

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http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/18/israel-action-threatens-rights-group-free-speech-breaking-silence-soliers