Immigration Authority rejects German journalist's work visa application over anti-Zionist politics

The Population and Immigration Authority rejected German journalist Serena Bilanceri's work visa application in Israel on Sunday, blocking her appointment as the permanent Israel correspondent for the German newspaper Die Tageszeitung (taz).The decision followed an official recommendation from Avi Cohen Scali, director-general of the Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Ministry, submitted to the Population and Immigration Authority.The recommendation was made under Amendment 40 to the Entry into Israel Law, which allows authorities to deny entry and visas to individuals acting against the state. It was also issued under an agreement between the ministries to share information and recommendations in such cases.Bilanceri, 43, a German journalist of Italian descent who covers the regional conflict from Jordan, Syria, and Israel, published several prominent opinion articles over the past year accusing Israel of "apartheid" and calling on the international community to take strong measures against it.Boycott under the guise of journalismAn official letter sent by the Diaspora Affairs Ministry to Amnon Shmueli, head of the Ben-Gurion Airport division, outlined the statements that led to the recommendation.In an article published in November 2025, titled "Sanctions Against Israel," Bilanceri argued that settler violence was part of a "radical expulsion strategy" and called on the US, Germany, and other European countries to impose economic and military sanctions on Israel. She also adopted Amnesty International's characterization of Israel as an "apartheid state."In an article published in September 2025, titled "The European Union Must Act Together Now," Bilanceri criticized Germany for opposing a European Commission proposal to impose sanctions on Israel over the fighting in Gaza. She called on European countries to coordinate their efforts to impose sanctions and, if necessary, tighten them.Scali commented on the decision, stating that "Anti-Israel actors and those who slander Israel should not set foot in the country.""We will not tolerate calls for a boycott of Israel under the guise of professional journalism," he said.The decision was made under the authority granted to the interior minister by Section 2(d)(1) of the Entry into Israel Law.It follows a series of regulatory measures recently taken by Israeli security and government authorities against foreign activists and journalists who advocate boycotts and sanctions against Israel.