Investigation finds Israel trying to shield company behind Pegasus spyware from accountability
An investigation led by a consortium of journalists and supported by Amnesty International’s Security Lab has found documents that show Israel actively trying to shield the NSO Group, the private Israeli company behind the Pegasus spyware, from accountability.
“Israel has a duty to ensure Israeli companies do not cause or contribute to human rights violations anywhere in the world,” Amnesty’s Donncha Ó Cearbhaill, head of the Security Lab, said in a statement.
“These documents suggest that not only are they failing to do this but are actively trying to shield NSO Group from accountability for its role in severe human rights violations.”
The hacking tool Pegasus has been used by governments around the world to spy on dissidents, journalists, lawyers and activists via their mobile phones.
Treasury Secretary Yellen urges Israel to extend cooperation with Palestinian banks
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said that Israel must continue to collaborate with Palestinian banks amid threats from far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to cut off access to essential financial services in the occupied West Bank.
“I am glad that Israel has allowed its banks to continue cooperating with Palestinian banks, but I remain convinced that a one-year extension of the waiver to facilitate this cooperation is needed,” US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said during a meeting of G20 finance ministers in Rio de Janeiro.
Smotrich first threatened to block key transactions in the occupied West Bank in May, after several European countries said they would recognise Palestinian statehood.
