Israeli Government Says It Will Block Al Jazeera From Broadcasting

Israeli lawmakers have recently passed a new law that empowers the government to temporarily close foreign media outlets deemed to be a risk to national security. 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has determined that Al Jazeera, a Qatar-based network widely viewed in the Arab world, falls into this category. He referred to Al Jazeera as a “terror channel” that spreads incitement1. While the exact timing of the shutdown remains unspecified, Netanyahu stated that he would use the new law to block Al Jazeera broadcasts and activities in Israel.

Al Jazeera, in response, called Netanyahu’s comments “lies that incite against the safety of our journalists around the world.” The network emphasized that this move is part of a series of systematic Israeli attacks aimed at silencing Al Jazeera. Despite the new law, Al Jazeera remains committed to its bold and professional coverage.

Under the provisions of the law, if a foreign media outlet is deemed to “concretely undermine” Israel’s national security, the government can take several actions:

• Temporarily close its offices.
• Confiscate its equipment.
• Remove it from Israeli cable and satellite television providers.
• Block access to any of the channel’s online platforms hosted on servers in Israel or owned by Israeli entities.

Critics, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, have expressed concern about the impact of this law on press freedoms and self-censorship1. Meanwhile, the White House has also noted its concern, emphasizing the importance of freedom of the press.

This development occurs amid critical negotiations between Israel and Hamas, hosted by Qatar, which helps fund Al Jazeera. The Qatari government has not yet commented on the situation1. The battle over media freedom and national security continues to unfold in the complex landscape of international relations.