Israel’s Diaspora Ministry Recommends Banning Terror-Tied Groups from Entry — Who's on the List?
A “human rights” group led by a Hezbollah-linked figure, another with a PFLP board member, and one tied to CAIR — Jewish Onliner breaks down the connections behind these organizations
On June 26, the Israeli Ministry for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism issued a report recommending entry bans for dozens of individuals and organizations accused of promoting international legal action against Israeli citizens, especially military and government officials.
According to the report, the individuals and groups targeted are allegedly involved in what the ministry calls “lawfare,” the use of international legal systems to delegitimize Israel under the guise of human rights advocacy. The move follows an amendment to Israel’s Entry Law that allows authorities to deny visas or residence permits to non-citizens who call for boycotts, deny the Holocaust or the October 7 Hamas massacre, or actively support legal action abroad against Israeli nationals. Several of the individuals and entities recommended for banning are linked to terrorist organizations.
The Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF)
The Israeli government has recommended barring entry to the leaders of the Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF), a Brussels-based group it accuses of promoting terror-linked lawfare and inciting violence against Israelis. The organization, founded in September 2024 by Lebanese-Belgian activists Dyab Abou Jahjah and Karim Hassoun, is a branch of the pan-Arab “March 30 Movement.”
Abou Jahjah, allegedly an ex-Hezbollah terrorist, has a long history of incendiary rhetoric and support for terrorism. In the aftermath of 9/11, he said he and many Muslims felt a “sweet revenge feeling,” and during the recent Iron Swords War, he voiced public support for Hamas and Hezbollah. He frequently uses social media to promote violent resistance against Israel. His co-founder, Hassoun, previously led the Arab European League (AEL), which was convicted in a Dutch court for distributing Holocaust denial content. Under his leadership, AEL also organized a protest in Antwerp where participants were heard chanting calls to kill Jews.
The HRF has filed legal complaints against IDF soldiers in at least eight countries and submitted dossiers to the International Criminal Court accusing over 1,000 Israeli military personnel of war crimes. The group has also published identifying and travel information of Israeli soldiers, a move Israeli officials argue is meant to endanger their safety abroad.
Al-Haq Europe
The Diaspora Ministry also recommended banning the Belgian branch of the Palestinian NGO Al-Haq, which Israel designated a terrorist organization in October 2021 due to its ties to the U.S.-designated Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). Al-Haq was founded in Ramallah in 1979, and is a key player in international legal campaigns aimed at delegitimizing Israel.
According to the watchdog group NGO Monitor, Al-Haq has been deeply involved in efforts to prosecute Israeli officials at the International Criminal Court, accusing them of genocide, apartheid, and war crimes. It has led lobbying efforts at the UN and within the EU to push for legal actions against Israel and expand ICC jurisdiction.
Shawan Jabarin, General Director of Al-Haq, has longstanding ties to the PFLP. He was convicted in 1985 for recruiting and training PFLP members and, according to Israeli sources, has maintained leadership ties since. Due to his affiliations, Israel and Jordan have repeatedly denied him exit visas, with the Israeli Supreme Court citing evidence of his involvement in terrorism.
Jabarin has participated in multiple PFLP events, including memorials for key PFLP figures and joint appearances with senior operatives like Yahya Sinwar. He has represented the PFLP in political reconciliation talks and resigned from one committee after being publicly identified by his party affiliation.
Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN)
DAWN is another of the groups the Diaspora Ministry recommended be denied entry to Israel. DAWN is tied to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), which was named an unindicted co-conspirator in the largest terror financing case in U.S. history.
Nihad Awad, who serves as the chairman of DAWN’s board, is the co-founder and Executive Director of CAIR. He drew sharp criticism for his support of Hamas and praise of the October 7 attacks. In a November 2023 speech at an Americans for Palestine conference, Awad said he felt “happy to see people breaking the siege and throwing down the shackles of their own land” on October 7, describing it as “an inspiration for people worldwide”. His comments sparked condemnation from Jewish organizations and the White House.
Previously, according to the Investigative Project on Terrorism, Awad is on record stating that "I am in support of the Hamas movement.”
Law for Palestine
Law for Palestine, a UK-based organization founded in 2020, facilitates legal action against Israeli officials.
However, according to the Jerusalem Post, Salah Abdel Ati, member of the organization’s board of trustees — whose members it does not name but can still be found in the Wayback Machine — has admitted to being affiliated with the PFLP. Abdel Ati has spoken at PFLP conferences and moderated sessions that promote the group’s agenda, further raising concerns about Law for Palestine’s ties to extremist groups.
Lawyers for Palestinian Human Rights (LPHR)
Lawyers for Palestinian Human Rights (LPHR), a UK-based NGO founded in 2010, focuses on legal advocacy concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, LPHR has faced criticism due to its associations with individuals and groups linked to the PFLP as well. According to NGO Monitor, LPHR has supported individuals such as senior PFLP member Khalida Jarrar.
LPHR has also collaborated with the U.S.-designated terror group Addameer (prior to its designation) on legal actions targeting Israel.