Press Freedom Advocates Urge Israel Not To Ban News Network Al Jazeera

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, speaks to Minister of Communications Shlomo Karhi at the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, in Jerusalem,Monday, July 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has urgently appealed to Israel not to follow through with its intention to shut down Al Jazeera’s access to the country after news that the Israeli attorney general approved the move.

Israeli reports indicate that on Tuesday, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi finalised the terms of emergency regulations aimed at ceasing the operations of the Qatari news outlet. Karhi had announced his intentions on Sunday.

The Israeli authorities have consistently expressed concerns over Al Jazeera’s portrayal of the conflict in Gaza.

In a statement the CPJ emphasised the need for diverse media voices, especially during wartime.

“We are deeply concerned by Israeli officials’ threats to censor media coverage of the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict, using vague accusations of harming national morale,” said Sherif Mansour, CPJ’s Middle East and North Africa program coordinator.

“CPJ urges Israel not to ban Al-Jazeera and to allow journalists to do their jobs. A plurality of media voices is essential in order to hold power to account, especially in times of war.”

Al Jazeera has not commented on the situation as yet.

Israel’s hostile stance towards Al Jazeera is long running and the government threatened a similar shut down in 2017, alleging that the broadcaster’s coverage of protests incited violence.