Israeli government votes to shut down Al Jazeera*

[المستشار الصحفى]

Israeli government votes to shut down Al Jazeera* Closure to go into effect immediately, with the network's offices shuttered and broadcast equipment confiscated
MEE staff Sun, 05/05/2024 - 12:11
The main headquarters of Qatari news broadcaster Al Jazeera in the capital Doha on 11 May 2022 (AFP)
The Israeli government voted on Sunday to shut down Al Jazeera, one of the last remaining international media networks reporting on Israel's war on Gaza from the ground.*

The closure will go into effect immediately, according to Israel's Minister of Communications Shlomo Karhi.*

Walid Al-Omari, Al Jazeera's bureau chief in Palestine, said the decision includes shutting down the network's broadcast and offices in Israel, as well as confiscating broadcast equipment.*

The decision is valid for 45 days and could be renewed.*

"The government headed by me unanimously decided: the incitement channel Al Jazeera will be closed in Israel," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on X.*




Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemned the decision in a post on X, calling it "repressive legislation" aiming to "censor the channel for its coverage of the war in Gaza".

The closure comes following months of Israeli incitement against the Qatar-based network.*

Last month, the Israeli parliament approved a bill allowing the temporary closure of foreign broadcasters, including Al Jazeera.*

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The media network at the time accused Netanyahu of continuing a "frantic campaign" against it.*

"Netanyahu could not find any justifications to offer the world for his ongoing attacks on Al Jazeera and Press Freedom except to present new lies and inflammatory slanders against the Network and the rights of its employees," the network said in a statement.*

"Al Jazeera holds the Israeli Prime Minister responsible for the safety of its staff and Network premises around the world, following his incitement and this false accusation in a disgraceful manner."

Al Jazeera has long had a frosty relationship with Israel despite being one of the first Arab news outlets in the region to interview Israeli figures on air.*

In 2022, Palestinian-American Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was fatally shot by an Israeli soldier while reporting in Jenin.

The Israeli army initially denied killing Abu Akleh, but months later admitted she was "likely" killed by an Israeli soldier.*

Since October, Israeli forces have killed, wounded and detained several Al Jazeera journalists reporting from Gaza.


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