Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday renewed efforts to shut down satellite news network Al Jazeera.
The Israeli leader said through his party spokesman that parliament would convene in the evening to approve the necessary laws.
A Likud statement said that after the law is passed, Netanyahu “will take immediate action to shut down Al Jazeera in accordance with the procedures established by law.”
The law would give the prime minister and communications minister the power to shut down foreign media in Israel if they are deemed to pose a threat to Israel’s security.
Doha-based Al Jazeera did not immediately respond to VOA’s request for comment.
Communications Minister Shlomo Kahi has previously called Al Jazeera a “propaganda mouthpiece” for militant group Hamas and accused Qatari media of exposing Israeli soldiers to potential attacks from Gaza.
Press freedom groups have previously condemned the Israeli government’s efforts to shut down Israel’s Al Jazeera television network.
“We are deeply concerned by threats by Israeli officials to censor media coverage of the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict, citing vague accusations that undermine national morale,” said Sherif Mansour, Middle East and North Africa program coordinator at CPJ. In a statement in October 2023.
Some of the information in this report comes from Reuters.
