Israel decides to close the offices of "Al Jazeera".

2024-05-05 14:53:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Israel decides to close the offices of "Al Jazeera".

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his government has voted unanimously to close the local offices of Qatar-owned television broadcaster Al Jazeera.

Netanyahu made the decision public on May 5 via a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. However, the details of the impact this decision will have on "Al Jazeera" are not yet clear. Also, it is not yet known when the decision will come into force and whether it is permanent or temporary.

Al Jazeera, which is headquartered in Doha, Qatar, has yet to comment on the Israeli decision. But an Al Jazeera correspondent in the Arab service said the order would affect the broadcaster's operations in Israel and East Jerusalem, where it has been broadcasting live since October 7, when the war between Israel and Hamas began. , the Palestinian group declared a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union.

The correspondent said that the Israeli Government's decision will not have an impact on Al Jazeera's operations in the Palestinian territories.

Israeli media said the ruling cabinet decision would allow Israel to block Al Jazeera from operating in the country for 45 days, according to the ruling. "My government decided unanimously: the inflammatory channel 'Al Jazeera' will be closed in Israel," Netanyahu wrote.

Al Jazeera has strongly denied that it is an anti-Israel channel.

Israel and Al Jazeera have long been at odds. But the decision threatens to escalate tensions with Qatar, as the government in Doha is currently playing a key role in efforts to broker a deal that would halt the war in Gaza.

Al Jazeera is one of the few international media outlets reporting from Gaza since the war began on October 7. The Arabic-language programs of this media often also publish statements from Hamas and other militant groups in the region. This media was severely criticized by the United States during the American intervention in Iraq and after the overthrow of the Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein./ Rel