Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, promised on Monday to close Al Jazeera’s local office in Qatar as long as the Gaza conflict persists.
The bill authorizing the temporary closure of foreign broadcasters deemed a threat to national security in Israel was adopted by the Knesset just hours after the party spokeswoman announced that parliament will meet to confirm the required legislation.
Bill approved by Israeli Parliament
The measure permitting foreign networks deemed a threat to national security to be “temporarily” blocked was approved by the Israeli parliament, the Knesset.
The prohibition would remain in effect for 45 days at a time, with the option to extend it. The law would be in effect until the end of the major combat in Gaza, which could happen in July.
Using Twitter/X, Mr. Netanyahu declared, “Al Jazeera will no longer be broadcast from Israel,” branding the organization as a “terrorist channel”.
Israel has been charged by the channel with intentionally targeting its employees. Israeli strikes have claimed the lives of several journalists, including Hamza Al-Dahdouh, the son of Wael Al-Dahdouh, the head of Al Jazeera’s Gaza bureau. Israel disputes that it targets reporters.
Talks between Israel and Hamas on the nearly six-month-long conflict are being mediated by Qatar, the home of Al Jazeera’s headquarters. Prior talks that Qatar brokered resulted in the release of 105 Israeli captives and a brief ceasefire.
Al Mayadeen, a minor Lebanese broadcaster, was formerly prohibited from airing in Israel.