Israel's parliament approved a two-year extension of a law that enables the government to close foreign media outlets on national security grounds and restricts judicial review. The law was used in May 2024 to shut down Al Jazeera's operations in Israel and keeps the network's website and broadcasts banned. The move has drawn criticism from press freedom advocates and legal experts, while the government defends the measure as a security necessity.
Israel Extends Controversial Media Law, Keeping Al Jazeera Ban for Two More Years
An Al Jazeera employee is seen at the channel's Jerusalem office on July 31, 2017 [Ahmad Gharabli/AFP]
Israel's parliament has approved a two-year extension of a controversial law that allows the government to shut down foreign media outlets on national security grounds. The measure replaces temporary legislation first adopted in April and introduces amendments that reduce avenues for judicial review. Under the revised text, the authorities can apply the powers even when Israel has not declared a state of emergency.
What the Law Allows
Scope: The statute grants the prime minister and the communications minister authority to order the closure of foreign broadcasters operating in Israel and to seize their equipment if officials determine the outlet poses "harm to the state’s security." Officials say the change is intended to protect national security; critics argue it undermines press freedom and judicial oversight.
Application to Al Jazeera
Weeks after the Knesset passed the original measure, Israel moved in May 2024 to close Al Jazeera's operations in the country. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote on X on April 1, 2024, that "Al Jazeera harmed Israel’s security, actively participated in the October 7 massacre, and incited against Israeli soldiers," and said he intended to act immediately under the new law to halt the channel's activities.
Al Jazeera rejected the accusations as "slanderous," saying Israel's measures to restrict the network violate international and humanitarian law. In a May 2024 statement the Qatar-based broadcaster said the prime minister's remarks endangered its staff and premises worldwide and vowed to continue reporting and to pursue legal remedies.
Under the law, Al Jazeera's website and television broadcasts remain banned in Israel.
Background And Wider Context
The network has faced pressure from Israeli officials before: in 2017 Prime Minister Netanyahu threatened to close Al Jazeera's Jerusalem office, and in 2021 a missile struck the building that housed the broadcaster's Gaza office.
Journalists covering the conflict have faced significant risks. Reports indicate that dozens of Al Jazeera journalists — and, in several cases, their family members — have been killed in Israeli strikes during the conflict in Gaza. In August, reporter Anas al-Sharif and three other Al Jazeera journalists were killed; they are among hundreds of journalists reported killed over the course of the multi-year conflict.
In May 2022, veteran Al Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu Akleh was fatally shot while reporting in the occupied West Bank. Israeli forces initially denied responsibility but later said there was a "high possibility" that an Israeli soldier had fired the shot; Abu Akleh was widely known for frontline reporting from the occupied Palestinian territories.
International And Legal Reactions
The extension of the law and the closure of Al Jazeera's operations have drawn condemnation from press freedom groups and raised questions among legal experts about the balance between national security and freedom of expression. The government argues the measures are necessary to counter threats; opponents warn the law could curtail independent reporting and impede judicial oversight.
What Happens Next: Al Jazeera has said it will pursue legal options and continue to publish from outside Israel. The law's extension means the ban on the network's website and broadcasts will remain in place for at least two more years unless overturned by future legislation or court rulings.
