Al Jazeera is set to close as the cabinet is set to approve Prime Minister Netanyahu’s and Communication Minister Shlomo Karhi’s decision.
The decision regarding the constitutionality of the law is still in court while the Cabinet prepares to implement the law.
Israel’s controversial law
The law named, “preventing foreign broadcasters from harming national security”, was passed by the Israeli government (Knesset) and it gives the prime minister the power to block media’s television broadcast in Israel.
This can be done if the prime minister is convinced that the content of the foreign media is harming national security. The communication minister can bring the resolution to the government plenum or national security cabinet and give the government power to close down broadcasts, shut down offices, seize equipment used by broadcasters and block the website.
This law is temporary and has to be approved by the government every 45 days. The law is also set to expire on the 31st of July.
Israel’s cabinet is reportedly set to approve Prime Minister Netanyahu’s and Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi’s decision to close the Al Jazeera station in Israel.https://t.co/LH3ndzFq3A
— The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) May 3, 2024
Government set to implement Anti-press law
The Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi led the government’s efforts to pass the law after the Shin Bet, Israel’s security agency and IDF had warned that Al Jazeera broadcasts were revealing the location of military forces and were endangering soldiers. KAN legal reporter, Avishai Greenzeig reported on Thursday (May 2) that the attorney general’s Office had given the government the “green light” to begin to implement the law
Thus, many experts have speculated that this law will be an attack on the foreign press media and hinder true journalism.
Hurdles in the implementation of law
First, in order for the government to take action, Israel’s security agencies must prove on a factual basis that Al Jazeera causes real harm to national security.
Second, the decision has to be placed before the president or vice-president of the regional court within 24 hours. The court gets three days to rule on the decision of the government.
ACRI’s Fight for Journalism
The Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) is fighting the case against the Israel government and has requested the court to pause the implementation of the law. ACRI said that the government is pushing the law and wishes to implement it before the courts can decide the validity of the law.
ACRI’s case for Al Jazeera
ACRI said that the government had passed certain emergency measures which allowed them to ban Al Jazeera during the war. The government did not take such action during that period which undercuts the argument that Al Jazeera is a threat.
ACRI argued that that Al Jazeera ran a pro-Palestinian stance which is a fact but that isn’t sufficient reason to shut down the network.
They acknowledged that Al Jazeera included content against Israel but the incitement from the Israeli media was worse.
Recent updates
The meeting was scheduled by the government on Thursday to vote on the closure of Al Jazeera but was postponed to Sunday. Senior officials reported that the postponement was due to hostage deal negotiations and the possibility of a deal.
