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Israel blocks Al Jazeera television broadcasts

2024-04-02 09:01:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The law allows Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Security Cabinet to ban the activities of journalists for 45 days and block the signal and broadcasts of Qatari state television Al Jazeera in Israel. This ban can be renewed and will be in effect until the end of July, or until the end of major military operations in the Gaza Strip.

Communications Minister Shlomo Karai accused Al Jazeera of encouraging hostilities against Israel. "It is impossible to tolerate a media, with press credentials from the government press office and offices in Israel, to act from the inside against us, certainly in time of war," he said.

Israel blocks Al Jazeera television broadcasts

Under the law, the government can order the shutdown of a television station, confiscate equipment, remove the channel from cable and satellite providers and block its website, Israeli news site Ynet reported.

Criticism from media organizations

The press freedom organization "Committee to Protect Journalists" (Committee to Protect Journalists, CJS) stated that it is extremely concerned about Israel's plans to block the signal and broadcasts of Qatar's state television Al Jazeera in Israel.

Israel blocks Al Jazeera television broadcasts

CPJ program director Carlos Martinez de la Serna said, "The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned about new legislation that gives the government the authority to shut down Al Jazeera in Israel."

Martinez de la Serna added that "The law gives the government the power to shut down any foreign media operating in Israel, which poses a significant threat to international media inside the country. This step contributes to a climate of self-censorship and hostility to the press, a a trend which has escalated since the start of the Israel-Gaza war".

Israel blocks Al Jazeera television broadcasts

Al Jazeera protests the decision

Al Jazeera called the Israeli decision an "escalation" that "comes as part of a series of systematic attacks by Israel to silence Al Jazeera."

Al Jazeera has rejected accusations that it has harmed Israel's security, calling them "dangerous and ridiculous lies" that put journalists at risk.

Al Jazeera, which has been reporting 24 hours a day throughout the war, has strongly criticized Israel's military operations in Gaza. Al Jazeera said Israeli authorities have deliberately targeted and killed several of its journalists, including Samer Abu Daqa and Hamza AlDahdoh, both killed in Gaza during the conflict. Israel says it does not target journalists./ DW