Minister of Communication, Shlomo Karhi, announced that, according to the Prime Minister's guidance, legal and security work is being carried out to restrict the broadcasts of Al Jazeera channel in Israel. This matter is currently at the hands of the Minister of Defense, and once his approval is granted, the request will be brought to the Cabinet for confirmation.
The Knesset held a debate on an urgent proposal to address "the government's duty to immediately shut down the Al Jazeera channel, which incites against the State of Israel and supports Hamas, while broadcasting from within Israeli territory." The proposal was submitted by Members of Knesset Oded Forer, Zeev Elkin, Moshe Passal, Simcha Rothman, Erez Malul, and Moshe Roth.
In the explanation for the proposal, it is written: "Despite the government having already passed regulations and approved a process that would allow the channel's closure, the Prime Minister refrains from bringing the issue to discussion and decision in the Ministerial Committee on National Security and thus promoting the immediate closure of the channel."
"Meanwhile, the channel, which serves as a horn for the Hamas movement, broadcasts from within Israeli territory while conveying information to our enemies, inciting against the State of Israel, and expressing support for Hamas. Every minute that the channel continues to broadcast from the State of Israel harms the country's security, endangers our citizens and soldiers, and even constitutes a demonstration of weakness and passivity in the face of the terrorism that finds supporters on Al Jazeera channel."
Minister Karhi: "It is impossible for a media tool to harm the security of the country, certainly in times of war"
Minister of Communications, Shlomo Karhi, responded to the proposal and said, "This channel, which has been operating from Israel for many years and serves as the propaganda arm of the Hamas movement, enables the broadcast of military messages from Hamas, manipulation of events that incited the masses to riot, encouragement of violence alongside Hamas terrorists, and it photographs and publishes the locations of our forces, among other things."
"It is impossible to tolerate that a communication channel with press credentials from the Government Press Office, with offices and journalists in Israel, will harm the security of the country, especially in times of war," Karhi said. "The Prime Minister has directed to carry out legal and security work to restrict the broadcasts of this channel, and we are determined to continue this process until its completion."
"From our perspective, the orders are ready for removal from Hot and Yes, to the closure of offices, to the confiscation of broadcasting equipment and denial of press credentials to prevent telecommunications and internet services by Israeli companies, everything is ready," Karhi responded in the Knesset. "The discussion about the need to restrict the broadcasts is in full swing. To restrict the broadcasts of the channel, it is necessary to meet the conditions specified in the emergency regulations, including the position of the Minister of Defense, who was convinced based on the security authorities' position that Al Jazeera broadcasts do indeed directly harm the security of the country. This matter is pending his approval, which we have not received yet, and the request will be brought before the Cabinet."
From the Ministry of Defense, it was conveyed that contrary to what was claimed, the Minister of Defense supports the immediate restriction of broadcasts and activities of the Al Jazeera station from Israel.