Jerusalem (CNN) Israel has rejected a work permit application for Human Rights Watch's Israel and Palestine director on the grounds the organization "engaged in politics in the service of Palestinian propaganda." According to Human Rights Watch, a letter dated February 20 from the Israeli Interior Ministry denied a work permit for US citizen Omar Shakir -- a Human Rights Watch employee. HRW says the denial is a sign that Israel is seeking to "limit the space for local and international human rights groups to operate in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories." "We are aware of reports that a Human Rights Watch employee was denied a work permit by Israeli authorities on the grounds that HRW is not a 'real' human rights organization," he said. "We hope the Israeli authorities will reverse this decision and allow both international and domestic human rights groups to work freely."

Source: CNN February 24, 2017 15:50 UTC