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Rabat – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet unanimously voted on Sunday to close Al Jazeera’s operations in Israel.
The Israeli cabinet’s decision follows the passing of a new law by Israel’s parliament allowing for the temporary closure of foreign broadcasters perceived as a threat to national security, particularly during Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza, reports Al Jazeera.
Netanyahu took to social media, formerly Twitter, to announce the decision in Hebrew, declaring: “The government headed by me unanimously decided: the incitement channel Al Jazeera will be closed in Israel.”
However, he did not specify when the closure might take effect or whether it would be permanent or temporary.
This move marks an escalation in Israel’s longstanding attack on freedom of the press and in particular its feud with Al Jazeera.
Israel has long accused the Qatar-based network of bias against it and alleged collaboration with Hamas. Al Jazeera has consistently denied the allegations.
Since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza, Al Jazeera has remained one of the few international media outlets on the ground, broadcasting harrowing scenes of airstrikes and casualties, while also leveling accusations of Israeli actions amounting to massacres.
Last month, Netanyahu vowed to take action against Al Jazeera after passing a law that grants senior ministers the authority to shut down foreign news networks deemed to pose a security risk.
In a social media post at the time, Netanyahu accused Al Jazeera of harming Israel’s security and inciting violence.
Al Jazeera, for its part, has vehemently contested Netanyahu’s claims, accusing him of incitement and holding him responsible for the safety of its staff and facilities worldwide.
Reacting to the news, Al Jazeera’s Zein Basravi, reporting from Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, emphasized the network’s commitment to covering the Palestine-Israel conflict, describing it as “one of the main reasons that our network exists.”
Basravi expressed concerns about the safety of their journalists and operations in light of the Israeli government’s decision.
The move to shutter Al Jazeera’s operations in Israel threatens to further strain relations between Israel and Qatar.
Qatar has also been actively involved in mediation efforts between the Israeli government, Hamas, and other world actors to halt the war in Gaza.
Read Also: Netanyahu Vows to Shut Down Al Jazeera in Israel, Calling It a ‘Terrorist Channel’
