A/HRC/40/43 Entry into Israel Law is being used to prevent human rights defenders from entering into Israel, as illustrated by the case of two prominent American human rights lawyers who were denied entry to Israel on 29 April 2018 for their alleged support to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.61 33. On 7 May 2018, the work visa of Human Rights Watch’s Country Director in Israel and Palestine, Omar Shakir, was revoked by the Israeli Ministry of the Interior based on Mr. Shakir’s supposed past involvement in activism with the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. 62 Following a petition by Human Rights Watch, the Jerusalem District Court issued an interim injunction allowing Mr. Shakir to remain in the country while the court considered the petition. The Government based its position on statements attributed to Mr. Shakir in support of the establishment of a database of businesses, mandated by the Human Rights Council in its resolution 31/36. An amicus brief filed by the organization NGO Monitor and accepted by the court also pointed to social media posts highlighting the support of Human Rights Watch for the database and its general advocacy work at the Council. In January 2019, the Government submitted a response, standing by its decision to deport Mr. Shakir. The case remains pending before the District Court. 34. Continuing restrictions on freedom of movement by Israeli authorities also hampered the work of Palestinian human rights defenders and organizations, as most of them were not allowed to move freely between the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza. 63 There were also increasing measures to limit civic space available to Palestinians, in particular in East Jerusalem. Israeli security forces prevented the holding of a press conference organized by the Addar Foundation and Elia Association for Youth on the developments in East Jerusalem, following the statement by the President of the United States of America on Jerusalem of 6 December 2017. On 18 April 2018, Israeli authorities closed Elia Association for Youth in East Jerusalem. 64 Palestinian authorities 35. Human rights defenders and civil society activists expressing views critical of the human rights record of Palestinian authorities were subjected to harassment, threats and restrictions to their freedom of expression and assembly in the West Bank and Gaza during the period under review. In June 2018, demonstrations were held in the West Bank calling for measures imposed by the authorities of the State of Palestine against Gaza to be lifted.65 In addition to curtailing the demonstrations, high-ranking officials insulted and threatened the political opposition, civil society and activists who had organized the demonstration. 66 The Head of the Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center was harassed, and one staff member was summoned by Palestinian security forces for an alleged role in organizing the demonstrations. An advocate from Addameer Prisoners Support and Human Rights Association, Muhannad Karaja, who has represented several individuals alleging arbitrary arrest, ill-treatment and torture by Palestinian security forces, reported receiving threats, including death threats, and having his car damaged by unknown assailants. B. Arbitrary arrest, assault and detention of and legal proceedings against human rights defenders 36. The Israeli and Palestinian authorities continued to arbitrarily detain human rights defenders in the reporting period. Deprivation of liberty resulting from the peaceful 61 62 63 64 65 66 See Dina Kraft, “Two leading U.S. human rights activists refused entry to Israel, one for BDS ties”, Haaretz, 3 May 2018 and Roger Cohen, “Israel banishes a Columbia law professor for thinking differently”, New York Times (4 May 2018). See www.hrw.org/news/2018/05/08/israel-orders-human-rights-watch-official-deported; www.hrw. org/sites/default/files/supporting_resources/israeli_governments_response_lawsuit_hebrew.pdf. See A/HRC/40/39, paras. 45–51. See also A/73/420, paras. 8–32. A/HRC/40/39, para. 43. Ibid., para. 61. See www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az_0ePNvIT4 (in Hebrew). 11