The Knesset, with a majority of 56 members, approved a law to close Al Jazeera’s office in Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier held a conversation with coalition chairman Ofer Katz and asked him to ensure that the law to close the Qatari channel, Al Jazeera, would be passed in the second and third readings, which indeed happened.
The new law grants the Israeli Prime Minister the authority to halt the broadcasting of the Qatari channel, but the closure will only be temporary. According to a statement from the Likud party, “After the law is approved, Prime Minister Netanyahu will immediately work to close Al Jazeera in a manner that is consistent with the law.”
“The proposed law acknowledges that the Israeli Minister of Communications, after reaching an agreement with the Prime Minister and obtaining the approval of the cabinet or the government, will be allowed to act against a foreign channel that undermines national security.” However, after the law is passed and comes into effect, the closure process must receive the actual approval of the Prime Minister and the cabinet or government, following the presentation of professional opinions from security agencies that prove the channel’s actual impact on national security.
After the decision is announced, it will be subject to review by the Chief Justice of the Israeli Central Court or his deputy within 24 hours, and they are authorized to amend or reduce the duration of the closure.
The proposal also states that the instructions will be valid for 45 days, with the possibility of extending them for another 45 days. The law will remain in effect until July 31st or until the end of the declaration of a special situation on the home front, or until the end of major military operations within the scope of a war.
Please note that this translation is based on the provided Arabic text and may not be an exact representation of the original article.
