Preliminary Approval of Bill to Shut Down Foreign Media in Israel!
The Israeli parliament (Knesset) has given initial approval to a draft law under which the government may suspend the activities of any foreign media outlet deemed harmful to Israel’s security, without requiring a judicial order. In this vote, 50 members supported the bill while 41 opposed it.
According to the provisions of the bill, Israel’s Ministry of Communications would be authorized to order the closure or blocking of foreign media outlets without time limits and without independent judicial oversight. In the latest version of the legislation, the clause requiring periodic review of ministry decisions has been removed — effectively opening the way for permanent suspensions under the pretext of security concerns.
The bill also introduces heavy criminal and financial penalties for any individual or entity that defies ministry orders. These sanctions include confiscation of equipment, large fines, and legal prosecution against staff or companies cooperating with targeted media outlets.
This measure is clearly seen as a step toward controlling the information space and silencing media critical of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government. Its preliminary approval comes at a time when many international outlets — including Al Jazeera, Euronews, and BBC — have repeatedly faced criticism from Israeli officials in recent months for their coverage of the Gaza war.
This decision by the cabinet of the so-called “only democracy in the Middle East” speaks volumes about its stance on free speech!
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