Israel targets Haaretz after publisher calls Palestinians 'freedom fighters'

The publisher of the Haaretz news outlet has come under fire from the Israeli government after he referred to Palestinian "freedom fighters" during a speech in London.

Amos Schocken was speaking at a conference in London on Sunday when he made the comments, which have provoked calls from government ministers to clamp down on the outlet's activities.

"The Netanyahu government doesn't care about imposing a cruel apartheid regime on the Palestinian population," he told attendees.

"It dismisses the costs of both sides for defending the settlements while fighting the Palestinian freedom fighters, that Israel calls terrorists."

Following outcry, Schocken clarified his remarks to indicate he did not consider Hamas to be "freedom fighters" and emphasised he supported freedom fighters who did not use "terrorism".

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