Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Iranian ambassador in Beijing to Al Mayadeen: We hope that Europe and the US give up their illegal actions and authoritarian hegemony.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli shelling targets displaced persons' tent in Al-Mawasi, Khan Younis, casualties were reported
IOF storm Jalazone camp, north of Al Bireh city in the occupied West Bank
Israeli media: A severe incident reported in Gaza some time ago
Israeli media: Military evacuation helicopters are transporting injured soldiers from Khan Younis
Israeli media: A security incident has been reported in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip
The Islamic Revolution Guard Corps - Quds Force announces the martyrdom of the head of the Palestine Unit Brigadier General Mohammad Said Izadi.
Sayyed Khamenei: The idea of Iran's surrender is laughable to the wise, for the Iranian people are strong and will remain strong, proud, and honorable.
Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Sayyed Khamenei: The insult directed by the Americans at the Iranian people will not prevail... Our people are great, our state is strong, and our civilization is deeply rooted in history.
Sayyed Khamenei: Downplaying the Iranian strike on Al-Udeid base aims to conceal the truth, and the coming days will reveal the extent of the enemies' losses.

How 'Israel' targets critics with baseless terrorism allegations: RS

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Responsible Statecraft
  • 12 May 2025 09:07
  • 3 Shares
4 Min Read

Former US official Josh Paul exposes how "Israel" weaponizes terrorism allegations to silence Palestinian civil society, discredit critics, and pressure institutions from Gaza to New York, often without evidence.

Listen
  • x
  • Israeli soldiers arrest a Palestinian woman during an arrest raid, in the village of Yabad near the West Bank city of Jenin, Tuesday, May. 12, 2020. (AP)
    Israeli soldiers arrest a Palestinian woman during a raid in the village of Ya'bad near the West Bank city of Jenin, Tuesday, May 12, 2020. (AP)

Josh Paul, a former senior official at the US State Department, has revealed findings from a previously unpublished report that illustrates how "Israel" strategically uses terrorism allegations to discredit critics and derail diplomacy, particularly regarding Gaza and broader Palestinian civil society.

Paul resigned in protest over US arms transfers to "Israel" amid the war on Gaza. His recent disclosures, published by Responsible Statecraft, shed light on a long-standing pattern. “Human rights activists in Jerusalem, humanitarian aid workers in Gaza, and college students in New York,” he writes, “all purportedly have links to terrorism,” according to "Israel" and its influence networks. The allegations, he argues, are often baseless but serve a calculated purpose, to smear and isolate those who challenge "Israel’s" political agenda.

The Jenin Revolving Door report: What it revealed

Paul first encountered this tactic in 2008 while working with the US Security Coordinator (USSC) in the occupied West Bank. At the time, "Israel" claimed that the Palestinian Authority (PA) was failing to "detain terrorism suspects," impeding US-backed peace efforts. Despite observable improvements in the PA’s security operations, "Israel" continued to accuse it of maintaining a so-called “revolving door” justice system.

To investigate these claims, Paul led the drafting of The Jenin Revolving Door Report, co-authored with a UK police official and a Canadian military officer. Recently released with minor redactions, the report found little to substantiate "Israel's" accusations.

While the report acknowledged that Palestinian law was vague and its justice system under-resourced, it sharply criticized the nature and quality of "Israel’s" claims. “These lists… commonly lack any evidence to substantiate the validity of the targets,” it stated. In some cases, the individuals named were already deceased. The PA, it added, “cannot simply arrest and administratively detain persons because Israel wants it done; it has processes it must follow… with international human rights and legal best practice.”

Related News

Digital apartheid? Report exposes anti-Palestine social media bias

Kneecap stands strong amid Coachella backlash over Palestine

'Israel’s' use of intelligence without evidence

Paul draws a crucial distinction: “Intelligence… is not evidence, and is often wrong.” He contends that "Israel" often demands that its claims be accepted without proof. “In the experience of the US Security Coordinator at the time I served in it, Israel’s lists were often flawed and inaccurate.”

The report also highlights a double standard. While "Israel" criticized the PA for releasing detainees, it regularly engaged in similar practices. “Israel does not try every Palestinian it detains… arrests and detentions form a regular part of intelligence gathering activities… and are often thought to be more pre-emptive or deterrent than they are reactive to specific threats.”

In 2022, "Israel" designated six leading Palestinian civil society organizations as "terror-linked entities," alleging ties to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). One of these groups, Defense for Children International–Palestine (DCIP), was raided just after the US acknowledged the credibility of its report on the sexual abuse of a child in Israeli detention.

Although several Western governments initially severed ties with these groups, most quietly restored them after "Israel" failed to provide conclusive evidence.

From UNRWA to US campuses: A pattern of allegations

This strategy has expanded to international institutions. In early 2024, "Israel" accused 108 UNRWA employees in Gaza of links to Hamas’ armed wing. Despite UNRWA's stated commitment to internal investigations, no supporting evidence has been submitted. “UNRWA has been unable to substantiate those accusations,” Paul notes, adding that “Israel has not provided any further evidence.”

Even US academic institutions have become targets. In March, a legal filing accused Columbia University’s Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapter of having foreknowledge of Hamas’ October 7 operation, based solely on a captive’s account of what he was allegedly told by his captors. “Why would Hamas leaders alert some college students in New York?” Paul asks. “Regardless of the accusation’s merit, the reputational damage to SJP is done.”

Paul warns that allegations without evidence should not be accepted at face value. “There is often less than meets the eye” when it comes to "Israeli" claims, he writes. He urges targeted individuals and organizations to “demand substantive evidence.” And if "Israel" cannot or will not provide it, he concludes, “it should be ignored.”

Read next: Ex-State Dept. officials confirm US bombs used against Gaza children

  • Pro-Palestine stance
  • crackdown on dissent
  • Israel
  • Gaza genocide
  • Israeli occupation
  • terrorism allegations

Most Read

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends a protest following the US attacks on nuclear sites in Iran, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

Iran declares victory as ceasefire forces Israeli retreat

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Israeli workers survey the site where a missile launched from Iran struck in Haifa on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

True Promise 3, wave 20: 40 missiles launched, Kheibar-Shekan in first

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025
Iran launches strikes on Israeli targets, despite alleged ceasefire

Iran victorious as ceasefire with 'Israel' takes effect

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Iranian worshippers carry their country's flags in a protest to condemn Israeli attacks on multiple cities across Iran, after the Friday prayers ceremony in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP)

Iran warns of NPT withdrawal, Strait of Hormuz closure after US attack

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The commander of the Quds Force's Palestine Unit, Brigadier General Mohammad Said Izadi (Illustrated by Mahdi Rtail for Al Mayadeen English)
Politics

Who was Mohammad Said Izadi, head of the Quds Force's Palestine Unit?

Hezbollah's now-Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon, July 2, 2024 (AP)
Politics

Sheikh Qassem praises Iran resilience in face of 'Israel', US

Al Houthi: Overthrowing Islamic Republic impossible
US & Canada

Sayyed Al Houthi: Overthrowing Islamic Republic of Iran impossible

Reproductive violence used as genocide tool in Gaza: UN
Politics

Reproductive violence used as genocide tool in Gaza: UN

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS