Highlights: Israel: Benyamin Netanyahu indicates that he will “act immediately” to ban al-Jazeera in Israel. Law approved by a very large majority by the deputies (70 for, 10 against) gives the Prime Minister the possibility of prohibiting the broadcast of content from the targeted channel. Law provides for numerous safeguards, particularly bureaucratic, which complicate its implementation. It is only valid for a limited period: twice 45 days and only during the war. As soon as the state of emergency is lifted, this law will expire.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Monday that he wanted to “act immediately” to ban the broadcast of al-Jazeera in Israel, shortly after Parliament voted on a law authorizing it…

Israel: Benyamin Netanyahu indicates that he will “act immediately” to ban al-Jazeera in Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Monday that he wanted to “

act immediately

” to ban the broadcast of al-Jazeera in Israel, shortly after Parliament passed a law authorizing it to do so.

The al-Jazeera logo in the television channel's studios in New York, August 16, 2016. AFP - STAN HONDA

By: RFI Follow

“

Al-Jazeera terrorist channel will no longer broadcast from

Israel
. I intend to act immediately in accordance with the new law to stop the activities of the channel

,” declared

Benyamin Netanyahu

on the social network Israeli) of a law to prohibit the broadcast in Israel of foreign media undermining the security of the State, a text targeting the Qatari channel.

This law approved by a very large majority by the deputies (70 for, 10 against) gives the Prime Minister the possibility of prohibiting the broadcast of content from the targeted channel, but also of closing its offices in Israel. The law adopted Monday in Parliament in

Jerusalem

was presented as part of the texts voted on according to an accelerated procedure in the midst of the war against Hamas in the

Gaza Strip.

Benyamin Netanyahu had previously asked for this law to be adopted during the plenary session of Parliament, according to a press release from his party, Likud. He accused al-Jazeera of being "

a propaganda organ of Hamas and of having actively participated in the October 7 massacre

." The Israeli military has repeatedly claimed that al-Jazeera journalists were “

terrorist agents

” affiliated with the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas and its ally Islamic Jihad in Gaza.

The channel fiercely denies Israel's accusations and accuses Israel of systematically targeting its employees in the Gaza Strip. The head of al-Jazeera's bureau in the Palestinian territory, Wael al-Dahdouh, was injured by an Israeli strike in December that killed the channel's cameraman, which is headquartered in Qatar. This country is also the place of residence of Hamas leader Ismaïl Haniyeh.

Law passed, but difficult to implement

The United States, a close ally of Israel, said a possible ban on al-Jazeera in Israel would be “

concerning

”. “

I will refer you to Israel on what they plan to do, but (...) if it is true, such a decision would be worrying

,” said the spokesperson for the American executive, Karine Jean- Pierre, adding: “

We believe in freedom of the press

.”

This desire to ban al-Jazeera is not new, recalls our correspondent in Jerusalem,

Sami Boukhelifa

. It was first mentioned at the start of the war. But Benjamin Netanyahu did not have the means to achieve his ends. Its majority in power provides it with a legal arsenal to achieve its objective. But for its application, it's easier said than done.

This new law provides for numerous safeguards, particularly bureaucratic, which complicate its implementation. In addition, it is only valid for a limited period: twice 45 days and only during the war. As soon as the state of emergency is lifted, this law will expire.

Israel: Benyamin Netanyahu indicates that he will “act immediately” to ban al-Jazeera in Israel

Israel: Benyamin Netanyahu indicates that he will “act immediately” to ban al-Jazeera in Israel

Law passed, but difficult to implement

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