The Knesset in Israel gave the green light to a new law on Monday, aiming to temporarily shut down foreign broadcasters that pose a security threat, particularly targeting Al Jazeera, funded by Qatar. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wasted no time in expressing his intention to enforce the law immediately against Al Jazeera, accusing the channel of aiding Hamas terrorists in their recent attack on Israel.
In a decisive 71-10 vote, Israeli lawmakers passed the measure, granting the prime minister, in consultation with other top officials, the authority to halt broadcasts, close offices, take down websites, or seize equipment of foreign channels causing "real harm to state security." The law allows such actions to be enforced for up to 45 days, extendable for another 45 days, or until July 31 or the end of Israel's conflict with Hamas, whichever comes first.
Shlomo Karhi, Israel's Communications Minister and a staunch member of Netanyahu's Likud Party, spearheaded the passage of the bill. He emphasized the imminent closure of Al Jazeera, which has been reporting live from Gaza during Israel's operations against Hamas. Karhi framed the law as a swift and effective tool against those exploiting press freedom to undermine Israel's security and incite terrorism during wartime.
However, the United States has expressed concerns over the legislation. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre emphasized the importance of press freedom, stating that the U.S. supports the crucial work of journalists worldwide, including those reporting on the Gaza conflict. The Committee to Protect Journalists echoed these concerns, condemning the new law as a threat to international media presence in Israel and contributing to an environment of self-censorship and hostility toward the press, especially amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
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