"To work in Israel you have to censor yourself": Israel closes the door to critical journalists

The German journalist Serena Bilanceri, who wrote for the newspaper "Taz" about Kibbutz Be'eri and a Holocaust survivor, was denied entry to Israel after the Diaspora Ministry claimed she echoes anti-Israeli messages and calls for a boycott. Meanwhile, British correspondent Skandar Kermani of Channel 4 was detained at Ben Gurion Airport and threatened with deportation, but was released after intervention. The Foreign Press Association condemned the practice.

The German journalist Serena Bilanceri, 43, wrote magazine articles for the newspaper "Taz" about Kibbutz Be'eri and about Holocaust survivor Ivet Shmilovitz. She sought to move to Israel as a permanent correspondent, but her work visa request was rejected in October 2026. The Diaspora Ministry claimed she echoes anti-Israeli messages, accuses Israel of apartheid and called for imposing sanctions. Bilanceri denies calling for a boycott, but admitted she expressed an opinion about settler violence and about defining the territories as apartheid. Meanwhile, British correspondent Skandar Kermani of Channel 4 was detained at Ben Gurion Airport, questioned about his views and threatened with deportation, but was released after diplomatic intervention. The Foreign Press Association condemned the barring of critical journalists. The head of the foreign press department at the Government Press Office, Ron Paz, defended the decision and claimed the amendment to the law is proportionate and that Israel is at war. The article presents the tension between press freedom and government policy.