Israel revokes taz correspondent Serena Bilanceri's residency, denying work visa and entry
Israel revoked the residency permit of Serena Bilanceri, the taz correspondent for Israel and the Palestinian territories, and denied her a work visa and re-entry. Israeli authorities accuse her of calling for a boycott of Israel in two opinion pieces from September and November 2025 on West Bank settlements and Gaza; she denies this, saying she advocated financial and military sanctions. taz and Reporters Without Borders condemned the move as a press-freedom restriction. Bilanceri is in Jordan; taz seeks German government support for her re-entry.
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Israel Expels Journalists Critical of Government, taz Correspondent Denied Entry
A taz commentary by Susanne Knaul criticizes Israel's treatment of foreign journalists, arguing that the government's new entry rules constitute a severe violation of press freedom. The article reports that taz correspondent Serena Bilanceri was denied entry this week, allegedly for supporting a boycott of Israel—one of several prohibited activities under rules passed by the Knesset. Knaul notes that since the October 7, 2023 Hamas massacre and subsequent war, Israel has barred press access to Gaza and increasingly restricts critical journalism, particularly by foreigners who can be expelled for violating strict regulations. The commentary asserts that Israel, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu frequently calls the only democracy in the region, is eroding democratic principles under its right-wing coalition. Knaul vows that such measures will not deter taz from reporting on human rights violations.
Read sourceIsrael Bars taz Correspondent Serena Bilanceri from Entry
The Israeli government has revoked the residency permit of taz Israel correspondent Serena Bilanceri, barring her from re-entering the country. The decision, made public earlier in the week, was condemned by taz and organizations such as Reporters Without Borders as a restriction on press freedom. The government claims Bilanceri called for a boycott of Israel in comments, an allegation she denies. In recent months, Bilanceri reported repeatedly on settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, the involvement of the Israeli military, and growing government restrictions on press freedom. In a podcast episode recorded on October 14, 2026, she discusses the accusations, her experience of recent days, the state of press freedom in Israel, and taz's efforts to secure her re-entry.
Israel bars taz correspondent Serena Bilanceri from re-entry
Israel has revoked the residency permit of taz correspondent Serena Bilanceri, barring her from re-entering the country. The Israeli government claims she called for a boycott of Israel in comments, an allegation she denies. The decision, announced earlier this week, drew widespread media coverage and condemnation from press freedom organizations including Reporters Without Borders, which called the entry ban a restriction on press freedom. Bilanceri has reported extensively in recent months on settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, the Israeli military's involvement, and growing government restrictions on press freedom. In a podcast episode recorded on October 14, 2026, she discusses the accusations, her experience over recent days, the state of press freedom in Israel, and taz's efforts to secure her re-entry.
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Israel Revokes Residency of taz Correspondent Serena Bilanceri Over Alleged Boycott Call
The Israeli government has revoked the residency permit of taz correspondent Serena Bilanceri, resulting in the denial of her work visa. Israeli authorities accuse Bilanceri of calling for a boycott of Israel in two opinion pieces from September and November 2025 that criticized West Bank settlement policy and the humanitarian situation in Gaza. The taz editorial board rejects this characterization, stating Bilanceri never called for a boycott and that the decision constitutes a serious infringement on press freedom. Bilanceri herself says she advocated for financial and military sanctions, not a boycott, and that expressing opinions is part of a journalist's work. She is not the first journalist denied entry since 2025; four others have faced similar treatment. The taz is calling on the German government to advocate for Bilanceri's re-entry and the protection of press freedom.
Israel Denies taz Correspondent Serena Bilanceri Work Visa and Entry
Israel has denied a work visa and entry to Serena Bilanceri, the Israel and Palestinian territories correspondent for the left-leaning German newspaper taz. The taz called the decision a significant interference with press freedom and accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government of abandoning democratic rule of law. Israeli media reported the decision relates to Bilanceri's reports and commentaries on settler violence in the West Bank and the situation in Gaza, in which she allegedly accused Israel of apartheid and called for measures against the country. Diaspora Ministry Director-General Avi Cohen Scali said anti-Israel actors and those who defame Israel should not set foot in the country and that calls to boycott Israel under the guise of professional journalism would not be tolerated. Bilanceri said she never called for a boycott but supported financial and military sanctions in response to Israeli government actions in the West Bank. The taz said Bilanceri has had previous entry and exit problems, including her laptop being destroyed after a explosives check last year, and is currently in Jordan.