Israel imposes restrictions on the work of foreign media
This law gives the Prime Minister and the Minister of Communications the authority to order the temporary closure of foreign publications operating in Israel.
In the evening of April 1, the Israeli parliament approved the “Al Jazeera law”: it gives the government temporary powers to ban foreign news networks from operating in the country if the security services believe they are harming national security. The United States is concerned. This was reported by The Times of Israel .
According to the publication, in the second and third readings at the Knesset plenum (Israeli parliament), the law was adopted by 71 to 10 votes. This law is temporary and will expire on July 31 or earlier if the government cancels the declaration of a state of emergency.
In particular, Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Carhi, who led the promotion of the law, promised immediately after the final vote that the Qatar-funded Al Jazeera news channel would be closed “in the coming days,” saying that “there will be no freedom of speech for Hamas mouthpieces in Israel.”
This law gives the Prime Minister and the Minister of Communications the authority to order the temporary closure of foreign publications operating in Israel and confiscate their equipment if they are deemed to be “causing real damage to state security.”
The publication noted that, according to the law, any order to close a foreign news channel must be submitted within 24 hours for judicial review by the chairman of the district court, who must then decide within three days whether they wish to change or shorten the period.
According to the publication, the United States has expressed concern about this law, as stated by White House spokeswoman Karin Jean-Pierre.
“We believe in freedom of the press – it’s critical. The United States supports the critical work that journalists around the world are doing, including those covering the conflict in Gaza. If these reports are true, we are concerned,” she said.
This legislative initiative passed the first reading in the plenum in February and was approved for the second and third readings after extended debate in the Knesset National Security Committee.
On February 12, it was reported that in 2024, Israel would have to sell an almost record number of bonds to finance the war against the Hamas group.
On February 26, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the United States of not supporting his country enough.
On March 30, The Washington Post, citing anonymous sources, reported that the administration of US President Joe Biden had approved the transfer of several billion dollars worth of bombs and fighter jets to Israel, despite Washington’s concerns about a possible military offensive by the Israeli army against the city of Rafah in southern Gaza.
