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SvennoJ on 01 April 2024
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Al Jazeera targeted by Israel once again

There have been earlier threats to use emergency regulations to clamp down on Al Jazeera’s offices in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories. In mid-October, Israel’s government passed wartime regulations allowing it to provisionally close foreign media it deemed a threat to its national interests.

Israel’s Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi at the time said he hoped the measures would be used against Al Jazeera, which is one of the few international media channels to broadcast live from Gaza during the ongoing Israeli war. The minister accused Al Jazeera of pro-Hamas bias and incitement against Israel.


Press freedom organisations denounced the calls to shutter Al Jazeera and other media.

Israel has often lashed out at Al Jazeera, which has offices in the occupied West Bank and Gaza. In 2017, Israel pledging to ban Al Jazeera’s journalists, shutter its offices and block it from the airwaves. Israel’s communications minister at the time, Ayoob Kara, accused the channel of inciting violence, particularly surrounding the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

In 2022, Al Jazeera correspondent Shireen Abu Akleh was killed by Israeli forces while she was reporting in Jenin, in the occupied West Bank.


Israeli parliament passes law paving way for Al Jazeera ban

The bill gives the government the authority to stop Al Jazeera from broadcasting in Israel. Netanyahu had called for the Knesset to pass the bill and has promised to “immediately act to close Al Jazeera”, according to AFP and the Times of Israel.

The law passed its final reading by a 71-10 vote on Monday evening and also gives the government the authority to close the offices of foreign channels in Israel.

Netanyahu promises to ‘act immediately’ on Al Jazeera ban

In a social media post sent out shortly after the Israeli parliament passed the bill, the prime minister welcomed the law, and said that Al Jazeera would “no longer broadcast from Israel”. Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi said earlier today that Al Jazeera would be “closed in the coming days”.

Palestinian members of Israeli parliament reject expected Al Jazeera ban

Mansour Abbas, the head of the United Arab List (UAL), argues in the Knesset that it is in Israel’s interests for Al Jazeera to continue broadcasting. Another UAL member, Iman Khatib-Yassin, said the new law further narrows the space for democracy in Israel.

The lawmakers are in a minority in parliament, which is dominated by right-wing and centre-right parties.