Israeli lawmakers handed a legislation on Monday permitting the federal government to briefly shutter international media shops that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided undermine the nation’s nationwide safety, and the Israeli chief mentioned he would use the brand new legislation to dam Al Jazeera broadcasts and actions in Israel.
Mr. Netanyahu’s authorities has had a tense relationship with Al Jazeera for years, however the Hamas-led assault on Oct. 7 escalated tensions. Mr. Netanyahu has referred to as Al Jazeera a “Hamas mouthpiece.”
On Monday, the prime minister mentioned it was time for the Qatar-based community, one of the extensively considered sources of tv information within the Arab world, to cease broadcasting in Israel, though he didn’t specify when that might occur.
“The terrorist channel Al Jazeera will not broadcast from Israel. I intend to behave instantly in accordance with the brand new legislation to cease the channel’s exercise,” Mr. Netanyahu posted on X, whereas recovering from hernia surgical procedure.
Al Jazeera referred to as Netanyahu’s feedback “lies that incite in opposition to the protection of our journalists around the globe.”
“The community stresses that this newest measure comes as a part of a sequence of systematic Israeli assaults to silence Al Jazeera,” it mentioned in an announcement, including that the brand new legislation wouldn’t “deter us from persevering with our daring {and professional} protection.”
Below the brand new legislation, if the prime minister deems a international media outlet to “concretely undermine” Israel’s nationwide safety, the federal government can briefly shut its places of work, confiscate its tools, take away it from Israeli cable and satellite tv for pc tv suppliers, and block entry to any of the channel’s on-line platforms hosted on servers in Israel or owned by Israeli entities.
The Committee to Defend Journalists, an impartial, nonprofit group that promotes press freedoms around the globe, criticized the brand new legislation, saying that it “contributes to a local weather of self-censorship and hostility towards the press.”
White Home press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, requested in regards to the legislation throughout a information briefing in Washington, mentioned that “a transfer like that is regarding.”
“We consider within the freedom of the press,” she mentioned. “It’s important.”
The brand new legislation comes at a important time in Israel’s relations with Qatar, which has been internet hosting cease-fire negotiations between Israel and Hamas. The Qatari authorities, which helps fund Al Jazeera, didn’t instantly remark.
Anushka Patil contributed reporting.
