Karine Jean-Pierre Calls Out Israel During Briefing for Moving to Restrict Al Jazeera in the Country: If True, That’s ‘Concerning’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pushed to ban Al Jazeera from operating in his country, and he got one step closer to being able to do that now that the country’s parliament passed a law on Monday giving the prime minister the power to shutter foreign news networks. During Monday’s White House press briefing, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was questioned about the move.

As relations between Israel and the United States cool as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza grows, the White House and President Joe Biden are under pressure to distance themselves from a long-time ally and address increasingly dire conditions and thousands of casualties. Jean-Pierre was asked if the White House still stood by Israel for banning Al Jazeera from operating there:

Reporter: The parliament just passed a law banning international media from working in Israel. You always call Israel as an ally that you shared value with. Is this a value that you share with?

Jean-Pierre: So as it relates to — and I think you’re speaking specifically, at least the reports that we’ve seen is about Al Jazeera specifically — but it doesn’t matter whichever, right? Journalists more broadly. But to those particular reports, we’ve seen the reports, and certainly I’m going to refer to Israel for what they may or may not be considering. But, if it is true, if it is true, a move like this is concerning. We believe in the freedom of the press. It is critical. It is critically important. And the United States supports the critically important work journalists around the world do. And that includes those who are reporting in the conflict in Gaza. So we believe that work is important, the freedom of the press is important, and if those reports are true, it is concerning to us.

Watch the video above via C-SPAN.