Netanyahu’s Cabinet Votes To Shut Down Al Jazeera

The New York Times reports:

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel said on Sunday that his cabinet had voted to shut down the Israeli operations of Al Jazeera, a Qatar-based network that is one of the most widely viewed sources of television news in the Arab world.

The decision, which had been expected, could complicate Israel’s relationship with Qatar, which has been helping to mediate cease-fire negotiations between Israel and Hamas. Journalism organizations have said that such a closure would be a blow to press freedom.

Mr. Netanyahu, who made the announcement on social media, had previously called Al Jazeera a “Hamas mouthpiece” and said he would close it. Israeli lawmakers passed a bill last month allowing the government to temporarily close foreign media outlets that Mr. Netanyahu determined were undermining the country’s national security.

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עושים כל מאמץ לשחרור כל חטופינו, אבל לא נכנע לחמאס. pic.twitter.com/AlNdr1UISU

— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) May 5, 2024