Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday that his government had voted to close down the operations of Al Jazeera in Israel. Al Jazeera, a Qatari-based network, is a prominent news source in the Arab world and has often shed light on civilian suffering in Gaza during conflicts with Hamas.
Netanyahu accused Al Jazeera of jeopardizing Israel’s security and inciting violence against its soldiers. However, specific examples of content that posed a threat were not immediately provided by Israeli officials.
In response, Al Jazeera labeled the decision as a “criminal act” in a statement in Arabic. The network vowed to continue its duty of reporting despite Israel’s attempt to suppress the free press.
The initial shutdown order is for 45 days, with a possible extension of another 45 days, according to a Ministry of Communications official. The focus of the order is to prevent Al Jazeera from broadcasting and being viewed in Israel, raising questions about the network’s reporting in Gaza and the West Bank.
Netanyahu has previously criticized Al Jazeera as a “mouthpiece” for Hamas, the group responsible for recent cross-border attacks that triggered the conflict.
Various journalism organizations condemned the closure, viewing it as an attack on press freedom. Reporters Without Borders strongly denounced the decision, labeling it as repressive. The Foreign Press Association criticized Israel for joining a group of authoritarian governments that have banned Al Jazeera.
This move is unusual for the Israeli government, although it previously shut down a Lebanese channel, Al Mayadeen, affiliated with Hezbollah. Israel’s Communications Minister, Shlomo Karhi, stated that Al Jazeera’s equipment would be seized.
Israeli officials acted swiftly, with the main cable provider, HOT, ceasing to carry Al Jazeera. Police accompanied government officials in confiscating equipment at an Al Jazeera office in East Jerusalem. The Communications Ministry also announced the blocking of Al Jazeera’s internet sites.
The repercussions of this shutdown could extend beyond media, as Qatar, a key funder of Al Jazeera, has been involved in mediating cease-fire talks between Israel and Hamas, alongside Egypt.
2024-05-05 15:55:03
Source from www.nytimes.com