Israel bans Human Right Watch worker, accuses group of peddling pro-Palestinian line

Israel has denied a work permit to a Human Rights Watch researcher, accusing the group of serving as Palestinian propagandists in a move the U.S.-based organisation called an "ominous turn".The news emerged as Israel faced criticism from the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva over the 18-month jail sentence handed to an Israeli soldier who shot an incapacitated Palestinian assailant in the head.U.N. human rights spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said the sentence given to soldier Elor Azaria was "e