Israeli police establish special department to monitor foreign journalists

Israeli police establish special department to monitor foreign journalists Submitted by Nadav Rapaport on Tue, 05/19/2026 - 14:30 Foreign journalists in Israel have faced increased monitoring and restrictions in the occupied West Bank Israeli mounted police intervene during a protest by left-wing activists against the ongoing war with Iran at Habima Square in Tel Aviv on 4 April 2026 (Ilia Yefimovich/AFP) Off The Israeli police is operating a special department in the occupied West Bank to monitor foreign journalists who wish to enter Israel or the occupied Palestinian territory. According to a report  by Haaretz on Tuesday, the special police department works closely with Israel's Population and Immigration Authority, which is stationed at international crossings as well as the Allenby Bridge Crossing in the West Bank. Haaretz obtained a police document detailing articles and social media activity by Alessandro Stefanelli, an Italian freelance journalist, who entered Israel and the West Bank several times in the past. The police deemed Stefanelli critical of Israel, branding him "a journalist and photographer who provides one-sided coverage of Israel". In July last year, the Italian journalist was informed that his visa to Israel had been revoked, with the Israeli embassy in Rome not providing any explanation as to why his visa was cancelled. Despite this, Stefanelli tried to enter the West Bank through the Allenby Bridge Crossing, which connects the Palestinian territory to Jordan, but was denied entry by the Population and Immigration Authority. Stefanelli "calls for international intervention against 'settler violence' and draws a one-sided map" a police repor...

Original source: Middle East Eye