Israel Revokes Entry Permits for Jewish Activists Supporting Palestinians

Sam Sherman, an activist from New York, learned his travel status had been voided while currently working with the Hineinu program. Launched by the Center for Jewish Nonviolence in 2021, the initiative places volunteers in communities like Masafer Yatta to document human rights abuses and deter attacks. Sherman reported being harassed by soldiers and armed settlers who photographed his passport, describing his presence as being treated like a criminal offense despite the nonviolent nature of the work.

This crackdown aligns with a broader strategy by Israel's national security ministry, which established a specialized police task force in April 2024 to target left-wing activists. According to the Center for Jewish Nonviolence, dozens of foreign volunteers have faced similar permit revocations over the last two years. These measures follow the Biden administration's move to impose sanctions on violent settler organizations, intensifying the friction between the state and those monitoring the surge in regional violence.

The United Nations has described current settler violence in the West Bank as reaching an all-time high. By late July, 18 Palestinians had been killed in such incidents this year, already eclipsing the total recorded for all of 2023. Activist Cameron Kasky, who was recently detained by settlers while visiting with U.S. Representative Ro Khanna, noted that the state's aggressive stance toward Jewish solidarity activists undermines its stated commitment to Jewish safety. According to Kasky, the occupied territory is increasingly hostile to those who attempt to document the ongoing brutalization of Palestinian communities.