Press bodies urge Israel to review regulation ‘to shut Al Jazeera local bureau’

In a move seen as aimed at Al Jazeera and other media outlets operating in Palestinian territories, the Israeli government has approved a regulation to prohibit news organisations from “undermining national security, public order or serving as a basis for enemy propaganda”, according to media reports. 

Press associations have urged Israel not to proceed. Last week, the Committee to Protect Journalists had urged Israeli authorities not to close the local bureau of Al Jazeera. The International Federation of Journalists also appealed to the government to review its decision in the interest of the right to information and media pluralism.

Reuters earlier reported that Israel’s communications minister had said that he was seeking a possible closure of Al Jazeera’s local bureau while accusing it of pro-Hamas incitement and exposing Israeli soldiers to potential attacks. Karhi had reportedly said that the proposal was being vetted by legal experts.

“This is a station that incites, this is a station that films troops in assembly areas... that incites against the citizens of Israel – a propaganda mouthpiece,” Karhi told Israel’s Army Radio. “It is unconscionable that Hamas spokespeople’s message goes through this station.”

Israel’s attorney general Gali Baharav-Miara and communications minister Shlomo Karhi reportedly reached an agreement subsequently on the use of emergency regulations. “Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi has led the charge to pass these regulations in order to shut down the Al Jazeera news channel, which he claims has damaged national security,” reported Times of Israel.

IFJ general secretary Anthony Bellanger said, “We are deeply concerned at Israel's attempt to  censor media coverage of the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict using national security as an excuse to restrict critical media that do not confirm its narrative of the ongoing war. This is a clear attack on media pluralism and the public's right to know. The whole world must be allowed to see what is happening in the ongoing conflict and we urge Israel to review its decision.”

“We are deeply concerned by Israeli officials’ threats to censor media coverage of the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict, using vague accusations of harming national morale,” said Sherif Mansour, CPJ’s Middle East and North Africa program coordinator, in Washington. “CPJ urges Israel not to ban Al Jazeera and to allow journalists to do their jobs. A plurality of media voices is essential in order to hold power to account, especially in times of war.”

Israeli criticism

Al Jazeera, which is one of few international media outlets in both Gaza and Israel, has not issued any statement so far.

It has been repeatedly criticised by Israel over its coverage. In 2017 as well, the Netanyahu government had threatened to shut Al-Jazeera’s Jerusalem offices, accusing it of inciting violence. 

The ultimatum then had come amid intensified protests near the Temple Mount-Noble Sanctuary, one of the holy sites in the city. The protests, and subsequent clashes between the Israeli forces and protestors had led to the death of three Israelis and four Palestinians. 

Netanyahu had then posted on Facebook that he had spoken to law-enforcement authorities several times, “demanding to close al-Jazeera’s offices in Jerusalem”. “If this does not happen because of legal interpretation, I will work to enact the required legislation to expel al-Jazeera from Israel.”