An employee enters an office of the Qatar-based Al Jazeera network in Jerusalem June 13, 2017. Picture taken June 13, 2017. Portal/Ronen Zvulun/File Photo ACKNOWLEDGE RIGHTS
JERUSALEM, Oct 15 (Portal) – Israel’s communications minister said on Sunday he was seeking a possible closure of Al Jazeera’s local bureau, accusing the Qatari news channel of pro-Hamas incitement and endangering Israeli soldiers from possible attacks from Gaza.
The proposal to close Al Jazeera has been reviewed by Israeli security officials and is currently being examined by legal experts, Shloma Karhi said, adding that he would present it to the Cabinet later in the day.
Al Jazeera and the government in Doha did not initially comment.
“This is a channel that incites, this is a channel that films troops in assembly areas (outside Gaza) … that incites against the citizens of Israel – a propaganda mouthpiece,” Karhi told Israeli Army Radio.
“It is incomprehensible that the message from Hamas spokespeople goes through this channel,” he said, adding: “I hope we can deal with it today.” It was not clear whether the latter statement referred to a cabinet discussion or the implementation of a closure related.
Writing by Dan Williams; Editing by David Evans
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