Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged on Monday (1 April) to shutter the local office of Qatari satellite television network Al Jazeera while the war in Gaza continues.

Hours after his party spokesperson said parliament would be convened to ratify the necessary law, the Knesset approved the bill allowing the temporary closure in Israel of foreign broadcasters considered to be a threat to national security.

Al Jazeera, which is funded by the Qatari government, called the Israeli measure an “escalation” and said it “comes as part of a series of systematic Israeli attacks to silence Al Jazeera,” according to a statement late on Monday.

  • @[email protected]
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    392 months ago

    the Knesset approved the bill allowing the temporary closure in Israel of foreign broadcasters considered to be a threat to national security.

    The implication of that is beyond AlJazeera and war in Gaza. This means in the future he could shut off any news channel he want by calling it “a threat to national security”.

    Israel is moving at fast pace toward dictatorship

    • @Viking_Hippie
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      352 months ago

      It might not be a dictatorship, but it’s already a fascist apartheid state and should not be treated as a democracy by anyone.

      • @AmosBurton
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        02 months ago

        How is a dictatorship treated as apposed to a democracy?

        • @Viking_Hippie
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          182 months ago

          For one thing, you stop sending it weapons and funding with which to commit crimes against humanity, using “it’s the only democratic country in the region” as an excuse.

          • @AmosBurton
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            -22 months ago

            And a democracy should get funding and weapons for such things?

            Like, if eventually it is published that Israel really is a democracy (hypothetical) would it make everything suddenly ok in your eyes?

            • @Viking_Hippie
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              82 months ago

              And a democracy should get funding and weapons for such things?

              No, but not pretending that it’s a democracy leaves one less excuse for the inexcusable.

              Like, if eventually it is published that Israel really is a democracy (hypothetical) would it make everything suddenly ok in your eyes?

              Nope. Crimes against humanity are always wrong no matter the perpetrators.

              • @AmosBurton
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                -22 months ago

                If something is inexcusable, excuses are irrelevant, so I still don’t get what democracy has to do with anything here.

    • Chainweasel
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      2 months ago

      Israel is moving at fast pace toward dictatorship.

      I remember him being in power in the late 90s when I was in middle school, Putin too.
      I think it’s safe to say that when he’s only rotating out due to term limits then going right back to office when he’s eligible means we’re already there. He was Prime Minister in 1996, that would be like Bill Clinton being president today.

      • @ABCDE
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        2 months ago

        Interesting thing I noticed, Clinton is four years younger than Biden.

        Edit: downvotes for… Posting a fact? Lol.

    • @[email protected]
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      12 months ago

      Yes, laws like this should not be present even if the targeted media spreads bullshit.

      Problem is that laws like this can be used also against media that spread correct information, but point out Government’s mistakes (such as Haaretz)

    • @AmosBurton
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      -122 months ago

      foreign broadcasters.

      I wouldn’t call that dictatorship. The U.S. wants to ban a whole foreign app, is that a dictatorship?

      • @nexusband
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        22 months ago

        The reasons behind the ban are very different.

        • @AmosBurton
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          -82 months ago

          Mmm, I think both are labeled “national security”

          • @[email protected]
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            32 months ago

            China and Israel are currently fairly close in their dictatorial, genocidal governing style. America isn’t there … yet. If the orange kumquat is elected that may change.

        • @AmosBurton
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          02 months ago

          https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Press_TV

          an Iranian state-owned news network that broadcasts in the English and French languages owned by Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), the only organization legally able to transmit radio and TV broadcasts in Iran.

          Sure, that’s what I’m going to believe.

            • @AmosBurton
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              11 month ago

              the only organization legally able to transmit radio and TV broadcasts in Iran.

              Do you understand how much pressure they are under to please the supreme leader?

              Do you even understand that Iran has a supreme leader?

        • @AmosBurton
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          -12 months ago

          you people

          Thick fucking skulls

          Classy language.

        • @AmosBurton
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          -22 months ago

          I’m willing to volunteer 5 seconds.

          Please, explain.

          • @TrickDacy
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            02 months ago

            I’m not playing this pointless game anymore. Especially not with someone who apparently considers the phrase “you people” racist

              • @TrickDacy
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                02 months ago

                It’s almost like context determines what something “is”

            • @AmosBurton
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              02 months ago

              You do you.

              But I didn’t say racist.

  • @ABCDE
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    302 months ago

    Press murdered and shuttered… Surely a sign of a great democracy.

  • BoisZoi
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    82 months ago

    When you tear out a man’s tongue, you are not proving him a liar, you’re only telling the world that you fear what he might say.” - George R.R. Martin