B’Tselem is an Israeli non-governmental organization (NGO), which was founded in 1989; one of its aims is to document human rights abuses in the occupied territories.

Sar-Shalom Djerbi, the director of the Sherut Leumi, the national civilian service administration, which is responsible for the non-military options available to Israelis who don’t want to serve in the Israeli military said that B’Tselem had gone too far in its recent campaigning.

But Hagai el-Ad said the blacklisting was the latest in a campaign of intimidation and threats by the Zionist regime against the rights group over the past three weeks, because of its vocal anti Gaza campaign.

B’Tselem called the letter a “political pamphlet” and that Djerbi was using his government position to attack a human rights organization.

The organization had tried to get the names of Palestinian children killed in Operation Protective Edge aired on state TV, but was denied. B’Tselem’s appeal to the high court of justice was then rejected on Tuesday.

There have been death threats and violent attacks on B’Tselem employees, as well as an organized internet campaign against the group.

“The level of intimidation and the broadness of attacks on the organization over the past three weeks is unprecedented in the 25-year history of B’Tselem,” said el-Ad.

There has also been a surge in racism against Arabs in occupied lands over the past month and right wing Zionists and ultra-nationalists have attacked peace rallies in Tel Aviv and al-Quds (Jerusalem).

NTJ/MB