Israel Denies Entry to German Journalist Accused of Advocating Apartheid
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
Israel's Population and Immigration Authority denied a work visa to German journalist Serena Bilanceri, citing her articles accusing Israel of apartheid and calling for sanctions. The decision was made on the recommendation of the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism. The ministry stated that individuals promoting boycotts against Israel will not be allowed entry. This action is part of a broader trend of Israeli authorities restricting foreign activists and journalists advocating for boycotts.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israel denied a work visa to German journalist Serena Bilanceri due to her articles accusing Israel of apartheid.
- Bilanceri had called for international sanctions against Israel in opinion pieces published in September 2025.
- The Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism recommended denying the visa.
- The ministry stated it will not tolerate calls for boycotts against Israel under the guise of journalism.
- The decision aligns with recent measures against foreign activists promoting boycotts of Israel.
The Population and Immigration Authority has denied a work visa to German journalist Serena Bilanceri, preventing her from taking up her post as the correspondent for the German newspaper taz in Israel. The decision, made on the recommendation of the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, stems from articles Bilanceri published in which she accused Israel of apartheid and called for international sanctions against the country.
Bilanceri, 43, who is of Italian descent and has reported on the conflict from Jordan, Syria, and Israel, authored opinion pieces in September 2025. In one article, she criticized Germany's stance against an EU Commission proposal to impose sanctions on Israel over the conflict in Gaza, urging European nations to act collectively to implement and escalate sanctions if necessary.
Director General of the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, Avi Cohen-Scali, stated that "anti-Israel elements and those who slander Israel should not set foot here. We will not tolerate calls for a boycott of Israel under the guise of professional journalism." The ministry's recommendation was based on Bilanceri's writings advocating for sanctions.
The Population and Immigration Authority's decision invokes powers granted to the Interior Minister under Israel's Entry into Israel Law. This action aligns with recent regulatory measures taken by Israeli security and government bodies against foreign activists and journalists who promote boycotts and sanctions against the State of Israel.
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