Palestinian Authority blocks registration of legal aid group
The Palestinian Authority has blocked the registration of a legal advocacy group representing critics and opponents detained in Palestinian jails, a move condemned as the authority's latest effort to stifle civil society in the occupied West BankJERUSALEM -- The Palestinian Authority has blocked the registration of a legal advocacy group representing critics and opponents detained in Palestinian prisons, the group said Friday, a move condemned as the authority's latest effort to stifle civil society in the occupied West Bank. Without proper registration, the group, Lawyers for Justice, could lose access to its funds and be forced to close. The organization was told it had violated the law by engaging in non-profit work and accepting foreign aid despite being registered as a "civil corporation," said director Mohannad Karaje. Palestinian security forces…