Published 2 April 2024 at 11.12
Media. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he will act immediately to stop the Qatari television channel Al Jazeera's operations in the country.
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It Israel's parliament, the Knesset, voted overwhelmingly on Monday to approve a law that gives the government the ability to shut down foreign news channels that may pose a “real risk to the country's security”.
Benjamin Netanyahu says the law will be implemented immediately against Al Jazeera, which he describes as a “terrorist channel”.
Al Jazeera has – unlike other major media outlets – during the war had extensive reporting from inside Gaza and many employees on the ground, several of whom were killed in Israeli attacks.
The Arab television company writes in a statement that it will use the legal options available to fight the ban.
White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre calls the information about that Al Jazeera can be shut down for “worrying”.
Even in EU countries, which themselves have banned RT and other Russian media, there are critical comments.
For example, Sweden's former prime minister Carl Bildt (M) is concerned and writes on X that shutting down foreign media is something that “authoritarian regimes” engage in:
“The law, which passed by 70 votes to 10, allows the government to shut down foreign channels and gives senior ministers the power to close the offices of foreign broadcasters in Israel.” That's what authoritarian regimes often do… https://t.co/smqiG9pclW
— Carl Bildt (@carlbildt) April 1, 2024
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