Human Rights Watch: Israel bargained with Palestinian journalists by traveling in exchange for intelligence

The Euro-Mediterranean Monitor documented that Israel prevented dozens of Palestinian journalists from traveling in an "illegal and unjustified manner", and bargained with them to obtain this right in exchange for cooperation with the Israeli security and intelligence services.

The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor reported , on Monday, that Israel is preventing dozens of Palestinian journalists from traveling and traveling in an "illegal and unjustified manner", in addition to compromising them to obtain this right in exchange for cooperation with the Israeli security and intelligence services.

In a report entitled "Punishment of Journalists Israel's Restrictions on Freedom of Movement", the Observatory said, "Israel prevents dozens of Palestinian journalists from traveling and traveling illegally and without justification, in a policy that appears to be practiced in a punitive manner against the background of their journalistic work." or expressing their opinions.

The observatory documented cases in which the Israeli General Security Service (Shin Bet) blackmailed Palestinian journalists over their right to freedom of movement.

Journalists told the observatory that "the Israeli officers told them that the travel ban could be removed from them in one case, which is to cooperate with them in providing security information about the Palestinians or working for Israel," according to the report.

And the observatory added that "in other cases, Israeli officers promised journalists to give them the right to travel and travel if they gave up their journalistic work or stopped working for certain media and journalistic organizations."

And he added that, according to journalists' testimonies, "if they refuse the offers, journalists are subjected to physical and psychological attacks through beatings, detention, home invasions and threats of continuous prosecution."

He added that "travel and movement bans are carried out in accordance with administrative decisions issued by the Israeli authorities, including the intelligence service, without following legal or judicial procedures and without informing journalists of the decision at the time of its issuance or the authority that issued the decision and the reasons that prompted it."

He explained that "journalists are also informed of how to remove the decision or object to it."

The Observatory called on the Israeli authorities to "adhere to their responsibilities as the occupying power, and to remove travel bans issued against Palestinian journalists on the basis of their journalistic work or their exercise of their right to freedom of expression."

He stressed the need to "stop chasing, arresting and threatening journalists, and interrogating them indiscriminately at military crossings and checkpoints because of their journalistic activities."

"Siege" and "Sipar" When will Turkey achieve its independence in air defense systems?

In addition to its success in localizing nearly 80% of the weapons, equipment and military technologies used by its army and security forces, Turkey is now closer than ever to the localization of air defense systems also through the "Siepar" and "Sipar" systems.

While presenting a presentation on the Turkish presidential budget for the year 2022 before the Turkish Parliament a few days ago, Vice President Fuat Oktay shared important information about the ongoing projects related to the defense industries, especially the air defense systems. The system will be delivered to the Turkish army by 2024.

As part of Turkey's efforts to create a multi-layered air defense umbrella with pure national capabilities, the Turkish army received the low-range "A + blockade" system in the middle of this year, and while the serial production of the medium-range system will begin at the beginning of this year, tests continue on the promising system "Sipar Lock 1". Long-range, RF-guided booster.

For its part, Turkey believes that its need for a modern and advanced air defense umbrella, in addition to activating the "S-400" system it owns, is a very important issue to protect its interests and national security, as it is mediating an area where military conflicts abound and terrorist organizations backed by American weapons are active near it, in addition to The growing conflict in the eastern Mediterranean, Greece's reinforcement of its air force with French "Rafale" fighters, and its intention to purchase American "F-35" fighters.

Siege system

Hisar (HİSAR) is the name of Turkey's home-made short- and medium-range air defense system. The system is the product of joint cooperation between Roketsan and Aselsan, which has been developing and producing the system since the project’s launch in 2007, while the Defense Industry Research and Development Institute of the Turkish Scientific and Technological Research Foundation (TÜBİTAK SAGE) is responsible for the production of warheads for the system’s missiles.

The "Hisar" system comes in two different categories, the first is "HİSAR A+" with a range of 15 km, while the second, "HİSAR O+", has a range of 25 km and operates with infrared guidance. Where the system can detect and track targets at a distance of 40 to 60 km, as well as the ability to track more than 60 targets simultaneously.

While the low-altitude air defense system has entered service within the Turkish army’s equipment since the beginning of last July, the Turkish army is expected to receive the medium-range system after the end of the serial production phase by 2024.

The siege systems are characterized by the ability to operate effectively in various weather conditions against warplanes, helicopters, air-to-ground missiles, drones and cruise missiles, in order to protect military bases, ports and facilities from air threats. While its short- and medium-term systems have the ability to influence 360 ​​degrees and deal with 6 targets simultaneously.

"Sipar"a promising project

As part of the local and national air defense project, Turkey at the beginning of this month successfully tested the Sipar long-range air defense missile, which has a range of 70 km, which was developed by the same companies that develop and produce two siege systems for the short and medium range.

The Sippar missile, which will have a range of 30 to 150 km, meets an urgent need for Ankara to develop its home-made air defense capabilities, as the missile has high capabilities. The SIPAR system operates in an integrated manner and is equipped with an early warning radar developed by the Turkish defense company Aselsan, as well as explosive warheads developed by TÜBİTAK SAGE.

The three systems: "A+ blockade" and "O+ blockade", along with "Sypar Block 1", which is rated at a level that enables it to compete with the Russian "S-400" system, will form a multi-layered defense system capable of protecting strategic facilities from enemy attacks in Regional Air Defense.

Turkey is on the right track

With its constant mediation in a region of military conflicts, Ankara realized decades ago its need to possess a modern and advanced air defense system capable of repelling any air or ballistic attack from abroad, while the need increased and became urgent after the outbreak of the Syrian crisis ten years ago, before it rapidly grew After the outbreak of the Eastern Mediterranean crisis and the accompanying Greek efforts aimed at strengthening its air force with American "F-35" fighters, in addition to the risk of a war between Iran on one side and the United States and Israel on the other at any time.

Although Turkey has the "S-400" system, which consists of 4 batteries that can be placed in 4 different points, which gives Turkey defensive capabilities that it did not possess until recently, the four batteries will not be enough to provide the necessary protection, because other defense systems are not available. It is attached to the "S-400", which helps it in the tasks of monitoring and protection, and this is where the role of local systems comes in.

Today, Turkey is closer than ever to the localization of the air defense systems industry, through the efforts made and made by the Turkish defense industry companies that were able in a short period to develop the radars, missiles and warheads needed to come up with national systems that compete with their global counterparts and contribute to achieving sufficiency Turkey's autonomy in defense systems, which witnessed a severe shortage before Ankara resorted to buying the Russian "S-400" system, is giving great impetus to its national projects.