The Hague, Netherlands: A prestigious Dutch human rights award was presented Friday to two groups from Israel and the Palestinian territories even though the director of the Palestinian organisation was banned from attending the ceremony.
The Geuzenpenning medal was presented to Palestinian group Al Haq and Israeli organisation B'Tselem at a ceremony in the southern Dutch city of Vlaardingen.
The foundation that makes the annual award praised both groups for their "independent and critical" monitoring of rights abuses in the occupied territories.
The director of Al Haq, Shawan Jabarin, was not able to attend the presentation because Israel refused to lift a travel ban it imposed on him.
Hans Mathijssen, who helped organise the ceremony, said Jabarin was able to watch live through a computer link with Ramallah.
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