German Journalist Barred From Israel After Calling for Sanctions

Israel's Population and Immigration Authority has denied entry to German journalist Serena Bilanceri, who publicly called for sanctions against Israel. The decision was announced on Sunday by the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, which had recommended blocking her entry.

According to the ministry's statement, the recommendation was made under Amendment 40 to Israel's Entry Law and in accordance with an agreement between the ministry and the Population and Immigration Authority regarding the sharing of information and recommendations.

The ministry stated:

“Under Amendment 40 to the Entry into Israel Law, and in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism and the Population and Immigration Authority concerning the transfer of recommendations and information, the ministry's Director General, Avi Cohen Scali, recommended that the Population and Immigration Authority deny entry to journalist Serena Bilanceri.

“Bilanceri had requested a recommendation from the Government Press Office for a work visa on behalf of the German newspaper Die Tageszeitung (taz). Her application for a work visa was rejected, thereby preventing her appointment as the newspaper's permanent correspondent in Israel.”

Journalist's Calls for Sanctions Against Israel

Bilanceri, 43, is a German journalist of Italian descent who reports from Jordan, Syria, and Israel on the Israeli-Arab conflict.

According to the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, she has recently been promoting messages critical of Israel. On November 17, 2025, Bilanceri published an opinion article in the German newspaper taz titled “Sanctions Against Israel.” In the article, she adopted Amnesty International's characterization of Israel as an “apartheid state.”

She wrote: “Settler violence is not an isolated incident, but part of a radical strategy of expulsion. Pressure must come from the international community. The United States, as well as Germany and Europe, must impose economic and military sanctions.”

In another opinion article published in the same newspaper on September 1, 2025, Bilanceri called on European Union countries to act collectively in response to Germany's opposition to a European Commission proposal to impose sanctions on Israel over the war in the Gaza Strip.

She wrote: “Europe must now take a firm stand, and if this measure proves ineffective, further sanctions must be imposed. Proposals already exist, including at the European level. What is needed is the political will to implement them.”

Ministry Says Journalist Met Criteria for Entry Ban

According to the ministry, Bilanceri publicly called for economic and military sanctions against Israel in at least two opinion articles. The ministry determined that these statements met the legal criteria for denying her entry and a residence permit in Israel.

Avi Cohen Scali, Director General of the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, defended the decision.

“Anti-Israel actors and those who defame Israel should not set foot in the country,” he said. “We will not tolerate calls for a boycott of Israel under the guise of professional journalism.”