The following article by Allison Kaplan Sommer appears in Israeli newspaper Haaretz today (PDF here: bds-ties-could-put-israel-based-australian-journalist-in-hot-water-israel-news-haaretz-com): Australian journalist Antony Loewenstein’s ability to live and work in Israel has been thrown into question due to his support for the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement. The Government Press Office, which issued Loewenstein a press card last March,…
Showing all posts in June 2019
Centre for Investigative Journalism backs open press in Israel/Palestine
The following statement was released this week by London-based, The Centre for Investigative Journalism,… one of Britain’s leading journalism schools. The statement was then… tweeted by one of the world’s leading press freedom groups, The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ): Thursday 22nd December 2016 The CIJ is deeply concerned with media reports from Israel that… Antony Loewenstein’s work…
Australia's biggest media union supports free speech in Israel
In the last 24 hours the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) union, Australia’s leading media union representing the country’s best journalists, (I’ve been a member since 2003/2004), has sent the following letter to the Israeli Ambassador in Australia, the Australian Ambassador in Israel, Dave Sharma, and the Israeli Government Press Office:  His Excellency…
The limits of open debate in today's Israel
The following article appears in the Electronic Intifada by Ali Abunimah: Israel is threatening to expel an Australian journalist in Jerusalem, accusing him of being a supporter of the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement. The threat against Antony Loewenstein comes after the freelance journalist asked a question about Israeli apartheid at a press conference…
Australia unfazed about declining free speech in Israel
The following story appears today in Australian online magazine,… Crikey, written by… Myriam Robin.… One added point; I contacted the Australian embassy in Tel Aviv… yesterday to ask for advice on my situation in the hope that they would speak out strongly and publicly in favour of free speech in a self-described “democracy”. I wasn’t expecting much. The…
Free speech in the Jewish state
I publish the following story, from today’s Jerusalem Post by Gil Hoffman, with little comment. It speaks for itself and follows last week’s faux controversy over me asking Israeli politician Yair Lapid a question about the Israeli occupation of Palestine. But a few remarks: For over a decade, I’ve been an independent journalist and best-selling…
Senior Israeli politician doesn't like question about occupation, spits dummy
Yesterday I attended a press conference in Jerusalem with one of Israel’s leading politicians, Yesh Atid leader, Yair Lapid. He’s a serious contender to be the country’s next Prime Minister. Like most politicians in Israel, he hates Palestinians, wants them to disappear and largely refuses to condemn settlers or settlements. Welcome to Israel in 2016.…