Following a heated debate between Israel's Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi and Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav Miara concerning the legislation to close the Al Jazeera channel and station in Israel, a significant development emerged on Wednesday morning. The two officials reached an agreement that has far-reaching implications for media regulations in the country.
Under the provisions of the new law, the Minister of Defense will bring the decision to close a media outlet that poses a threat to national security before the Cabinet for approval. Subsequently, once the Cabinet grants its approval, the Minister of Communications will issue the official closure order.
ืื ืื ืืืื ืคืฉืื ืื ืืืื ืขืจืืฅ ืื ืืืืจื ืืืืื ืืขืืื ืฉืชืืื ืช ืืชืื ืืง ืืืฉืจืืื ืืฉืจืืฃ ืื ืืขืฆื ืืื ืื ืื ืืื..ืื ืืืืืคื ืืช ืืชืื ืืง ืืืื!
โ ืืืกืฃ ืืืื - Yoseph Haddad (@YosephHaddad) October 14, 2023
ืขืืื ืืช ืื ืฉืขืจืืฅ ืื ืืืืจื ืืื ืืื ืืจืืื ืืืืืื ืืชืขืืืื ืฉื ืืืืก ืืื ืืชื ืงืืืืื ืื ืื ืขืืฉืื??
ืื ืคืฉืื ืฆืืืงืื ืขื ืืืื ืืืฆืขืจ ืฉื ืืืื ื ืืืฉืคืืืื ืืช ืืืืื ืฉืโฆ pic.twitter.com/ocDAnR768w
It's essential to note that the order will not take immediate effect. Instead, it will be subject to review by a district court, which will convene to assess the order and make a final decision within three days of its issuance. This procedural safeguard ensures a thorough examination of the closure decision.
However, it's worth highlighting that such a Cabinet decision to close a media outlet will only be possible if there is a concurrent assessment by the security forces that establishes a compelling security rationale for the closure. This dual-check mechanism underscores the seriousness of the decision and its direct connection to national security.
Minister Karhi expressed his frustration after the announcement, saying, "It's crucial to understand the distorted world view at play here. For an entire week, I diligently presented the Attorney General with supportive opinions from all of Israel's security forces, advocating for the closure of this media outlet, which supports terrorist activities. Despite my considerable efforts and a procedure that should be crystal clear to anyone guided by rationality, Attorney General Miara has raised an unexpected constitutional impediment to the regulation aimed at closing Al Jazeera. This is simply baffling. I urge the members of the Cabinet to approve this measure regardless. We are in a state of war! Subsequently, we will pursue legal action at the High Court, but the closure of the station is imperative now!"
The truth about the Gaza Hospital bombing: Hamas launched hundreds of rockets at Israel, and 1 landed on a hospital in Gaza. Watch the footage yourself, supplied by the Hamas-loving Al-Jazeera TV, and ask yourself how many missiles were probably stored in that hospital for theโฆ pic.twitter.com/jBfddYALYH
โ Imam of Peace (@Imamofpeace) October 17, 2023
In response, Walid Al-Omari, the director of the Al-Jazeera television network in Jerusalem, conveyed his perspective to Yedioth Ahronoth. He stated, "Israel is accusing us of wrongdoing that we have not committed. Since the onset of the conflict, we have provided live broadcasts of all press conferences by figures such as Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Galant, and the Chief of Staff, accompanied by simultaneous translation. Even Israeli officials, including IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari, Avihai Adraae, and the Foreign Ministry spokesman, have appeared on our platform. We have consistently adhered to the principles of free speech and have ensured coordination with the Israeli military."
Al-Omari emphasized, "The images we broadcast are identical to those aired on Israeli channels, including military statements. We have consistently upheld a commitment to transparency and have never violated censorship rules."
