Story: “This is a very risky decision for Al Jazeera…”
The heads of Al Jazeera in Israel and the Palestinian territories on Sunday condemned the Israeli government’s decision to suspend the network’s local operations.
Walid Omari said he believed the decision against the Qatari-owned outlet was political.
“…It’s clear that they don’t want others to know what’s going on in this war in Gaza, inside Israel, and in the West Bank.”
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his view that the network’s journalists pose a threat to national security.
His cabinet resolved to shut down the network as long as the war in Gaza continues.
Late on Sunday, Israeli officials and Al Jazeera officials told Reuters that Israeli authorities had raided a Jerusalem hotel room that was being used as Al Jazeera’s de facto office.
Omari: “This is dangerous because this is inciting Israeli extremists to start attacking Al Jazeera journalists in particular.”
A government statement said Israel intends to close Al Jazeera’s offices, confiscate its broadcasting equipment and cut off its channels from Israeli cable and satellite companies.
He did not specifically mention the network’s activities in Gaza.
Omari: “We have a legal team working to respond to these measures and regulations.”
Al Jazeera has been critical of Israel’s military operations in Gaza and has provided round-the-clock coverage throughout the war in the enclave.
In April, the network accused Israel of trying to “systematically” silence…
Alleges that Israeli authorities deliberately targeted and killed several journalists.
Israel said it was not targeting journalists.
The United Nations human rights office also criticized the closure.
There was no official comment from the Qatari government.
