The ban comes after Al Jazeera presented a well-documented report suggesting that Israel was responsible for the attack on Al-Ahli Hospital.
On Friday, the Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi announced the closure of the Qatari news network Al Jazeera.
This decision was justified by citing new policies that allow the temporary shutdown of foreign media outlets in case of emergencies. In this instance, Israel views Al Jazeera as a pro-Islamic and pro-Palestinian media organization.
“Al Jazeera’s broadcasts and reports constitute incitement against Israel. Their propaganda supports Hamas, the Islamic State, and other terrorist organizations, promoting violence against Israel,” Karhi stated.
Approved by the Defense Ministry, currenty Israeli policies empower the Communications ministry to order any media outlet to cease broadcasting and publishing content, as well as to close their offices and seize their equipment.
“The closure of the Al Jazeera network in Israel follows the presentation of evidence that it aids the enemy, disseminates propaganda in the service of Hamas in Arabic and English to viewers worldwide, and even provides sensitive information to our adversaries.”
“Israel is at war on land, in the air, at sea, and on the front of public diplomacy. We will not tolerate broadcasts that threaten the security of the State,” Karhi declared, emphasizing that the measure will be valid for 30 days and may be extended for an additional 30 days.
The ban on Al Jazeera comes after the media outlet presented a well-documented report suggesting that the Israeli armed forces were responsible for the attack on Al-Ahli Hospital, which resulted in the deaths of nearly 500 Palestinians. The Al Jazeera report also disputed the claim that the Palestinian resistance was behind the aggression.
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The most damning thing here, is nothing in the Israeli statements indicated truth was a defense. All of the rules are about hurting the military effort, none of it about lies. They called them lies sure, but all the rules are about hurting the effort. The truth can hurt sometimes.
BBC admitted it was ‘wrong’ to report that Israel struck the Gaza hospital.
I doubt AJ will do likewise. A few years ago I caught them lying to discredit g20 protestors.
To their credit, the g20 video they streamed alongside their false commentary is enough to discredit their interpretation of events.
All journalism should be subject to verification, especially news from capitalist or authoritarian regimes. It should be noted that the BBC did not say they were wrong that Israel struck the Al-Ahli Hospital, only that they were wrong to report that Israel struck the Al-Ahli Hospital.
Responsible journalism holds itself to particular standards, such as having reliable sources, or multiple independent indications of evidence. The BBC journalist was speaking live on air, off the cuff, and had no way to reliably verify the source of the explosion besides his gut instincts. Meanwhile Al Jazeera has done significantly more work reporting on this issue, including digital forensics and interviews with military specialists. They won’t retract their statement because it holds up to the highest of journalistic standards. While Jon Donnison was wrong to report what he did, his intuitions appear to have been ultimately correct.
It should be noted that Israel’s internal reporting does not appear to follow these journalism norms. Arab and Muslim reporters are outraged by the lack of journalistic standards behind some of the reports that have been widely spread to incite public outrage in against Palestinians, when their reporting is held to comparatively impossible standards.
While Al Jazeera Arabic and the state of Qatar have a justifiably bad reputation, Al Jazeera English is staffed with veteran reporters from Britain, America, and Australia who have distinguished themselves in their field. They consistently outperform the BBC on most metrics of journalism when reporting on anything besides internal Qatari affairs. This is not to say they are flawless or do not make mistakes, only as you continue to hold them accountable, consider the context in which they are reporting and the norms they should be held to.
To their credit, the g20 video they streamed alongside their false commentary is enough to discredit their interpretation of events.
It isn’t “to their credit”. They slipped up by including the visual evidence which proves their reporter lied. The reporter was on site, not in a studio.
The hospital was not hit by a missile. The car park was. There was no way 500 people were sleeping there. The footage was available the same day.
In addition, AJ streamed live footage of missiles from Gaza including the one which turned around and (presumably) hit the hospital.
Meanwhile zero images of the hospital being hit have been released to this day.
I doubt Israeli newspapers are any better but AJ messed up big time.
I’m disappointed that you’re replicating the flawed asymmetric standards of Israel in this conversation. I’ve linked to sources for my statements, but you’ve made controversial claims while putting the burden on me to find what sources you’re using to bolster your confidence. If your goal is to signify your ‘team,’ this conversation is over. If you would like to try and build a shared reality where we can agree on facts, your lack of respect for me is harming that goal.
You are the one treating this like football teams with your whataboutism re the Israeli newspaper.
Nevertheless I responded by saying I doubt Israeli newspapers are better but you ignore that part.
And you characterised the g20 report slip-up as commendable because in your mind they deliberately planted the truth as an Easter Egg for internet sleuths.
I doubt I am in a discussion with someone who is impartial here. Blocked. No need to aggravate each other further.
on the front of public diplomacy
This is a euphemism for public influence campaigns, fyi.
