Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has announced he backs a Communications Ministry plan to shut down Al-Jazeera Israel after determining it promotes the agenda of extremist Islam. Communications Minister Ayoub Kara, in his announcement on Sunday, 14 Menachem Av, cited while the ministry will fight to defend and protect freedom of the press, in this case, we are dealing with a threat to national security as Al-Jazeera regularly incites against Israel and advances the agenda of Islamic Islam. Kara explained this was the case following the recent shooting attack on Har Habayis that claimed the lives of two Israeli policemen.

Kara plans to shut down Al-Jazeera’s office in the capital as well as revoking the press cards of its employees. He also plans to bar the station’s broadcasts on Israeli cable and satellite TV.

ACRI (Association for Civil Rights in Israel) was first in line to decry the move, true to its extreme left-wing agenda, insisting the minister’s decision is a violation of freedom of the press and expression.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)