Israel cabinet votes to shut down Al Jazeera’s operations

Israel: Israel’s cabinet voted unanimously on Sunday to shut down the operations of Qatari news outlet Al Jazeera in Israel, the Jerusalem Post reports, after announcing its intention to do so due to security concerns related to the Israel-Hamas war. After about six months. Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi signed an executive order immediately after the vote was passed and it went into effect immediately. In a video statement, Karhi called Al Jazeera an “organ that instigates Hamas.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also posted on Twitter, “Under my leadership the government made a unanimous decision: The inciting channel Al Jazeera will be closed down in Israel.”

The decision, which requires recertification every 45 days, includes shutting down Al Jazeera broadcasts in Arabic and English; closing Al Jazeera’s offices in Israel; confiscate equipment used for its transmission; and limiting access to its websites, The Jerusalem Post reported. The Jerusalem Post reported that the decision was based on a law that Israel’s Knesset (parliament) passed on April 2, which is set to expire on July 31. Therefore, if the government wants to extend the decision beyond that date, the law will need to be extended. The law also faces a constitutional challenge in the High Court by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) on the grounds of violating freedom of expression, and the state has until May 15 to file its initial response with the court. There is time till. The government passed emergency executive measures at the beginning of the war that would have enabled Al Jazeera to be temporarily closed. These were effective from October 21 to January 20.

Stay connected to Janata Se Rishta for news updates.