Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday May 5 the closure of Al-Jazeera’s local offices, after his government voted unanimously to close the Qatari channel. “The government that I lead has unanimously decided: the incitement to hatred channel Al-Jazeera will be closed in Israel”he declared on https://twitter.com/netanyahu/status/1787060542168862763 in a brief message.
The measure taken by the Israeli government was not further detailed by Mr. Netanyahu. Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, for his part, said https://twitter.com/shlomo_karhi/status/1787060688805912737 to have “immediately signed the injunction against Al-Jazeera”Who “comes into force immediately”. He adds that he ensured that the channel “can no longer operate from Israel” and accuses him of “threaten security” from the country.
Shortly after Sunday afternoon, Al-Jazeera’s Arabic and English channels did indeed display a message on a black background saying: “In accordance with the government’s decision, the broadcast of the Al-Jazeera channel has been suspended in Israel”. The channel’s websites remained accessible via the Israeli mobile network.
If the threat of closing the Al-Jazeera offices is brandished with each new crisis by the Israeli authorities, it has not always been effective. This time, the Israeli government ordered the seizure of the channel’s equipment.
Cameras, microphones and editing tables seized
According to the document signed by the Minister of Communication, instructions are given to seize “the equipment used to broadcast the channel’s content”detailed in a list which includes cameras, microphones, editing tables, computer servers, computers, transmission equipment and mobile phones.
“Too much time has passed and too many unnecessary legal actions have been taken so that we can finally stop the Al-Jazeera propaganda machine, which threatens the security of the state. For months, I did everything and I will continue to do everything so that they can no longer operate from Israel”reacted the Israeli communications minister.
Al-Jazeera, financed by the Qatari government and headquartered in Doha, has not yet reacted to the Israeli decision. Journalists from the Qatari media, which maintains its pro-Palestinian line, are practically the only representatives of the international press in the Gaza Strip. They show the reality on the ground without filter, broadcasting the bloody consequences of Israeli strikes.
Read also: Article reserved for our subscribers The Israel-Hamas war seen by Al-Jazeera, an almost unique window of expression for Palestinians in Gaza
Add to your selections
“Hide the truth” about the war in Gaza
Hamas called the Israeli government’s decision “blatant violation of press freedom” aiming “to hide the truth” on the war in the Gaza Strip. Israel’s decision is “a measure of retaliation against the role (…) played by Al-Jazeera in highlighting crimes” of the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, said the Palestinian Islamist movement in a statement on Telegram, denouncing “the culmination of Israel’s war on journalists”whose “aim to hide the truth”.
