The US online payment service PayPal on Thursday pulled the plug on the account of the French branch of the International Solidarity Movement – an organization that Israel has accused of aligning itself with pro-Palestinian terrorists who murdered three civilians and wounded over 50 people in Tel Aviv in 2003.
Israeli journalist Jean Patrick Grumberg, a reporter for the French-language American website Dreuz.info, notified PayPal that ISM-France supports the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions campaign against Israel. PayPal has terminated a total of four BDS accounts since 2016 in France due to likely violations of the country’s law barring discrimination based on national origin.
In an email to Grumberg, Fabien Darrigues, PayPal’s head of communication for Southern Europe, wrote: “As always, PayPal analyzes all cases that are reported to us and acts when necessary when they violate the law or our regulations. However, being bound by our privacy policy and banking secrecy, we are not able to give more information about specific accounts.”
When The Jerusalem Post attempted to access the PayPal donation section of the ISM-France website, the page read: “This recipient is currently unable to receive money.”
The Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem said on its website that the 2003 attack at the entrance to the Tel Aviv bar Mike’s Place was jointly claimed by Hamas and by Fatah’s al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades. According to the ministry, two British “terrorists were careful to establish their presence in Judea and Samaria by forging links with foreign left-wing activists and members of the International Solidarity Movement.”
The Foreign Ministry added that “ISM members take an active part in illegal and violent actions against IDF soldiers. At times, their activity in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza Strip is under the auspices of Palestinian terrorist organizations. Foreign left-wing activists, especially ISM members, who seek entry into Israel, often do so under false pretenses, via cover stories – entry for matrimonial, tourist, religious and other purposes – which they coordinate prior to arriving in Israel.”
Remember, this is the same terror-enabling, discriminatory organization of which Rachel Corrie – lionized by some many so-called “peace activists” – was a member.
A law school graduate, David Lange transitioned from work in the oil and hi-tech industries into fulltime Israel advocacy. He is a respected commentator and Middle East analyst who has often been cited by the mainstream media
A law school graduate, David Lange transitioned from work in the oil and hi-tech industries into fulltime Israel advocacy. He is a respected commentator and Middle East analyst who has often been cited by the mainstream media
