Israeli Knesset approves making decision to close Al Jazeera offices in Jerusalem permanent law

OCCUPIED PALESTINE, Dec. 23 (YPA) – The Israeli Knesset approved, in its second and third readings, the extension of the updated emergency law known as “Al Jazeera Law” for two years and its conversion into a permanent law without linking it to the existence of a state of emergency, as it was when it was enacted as a temporary order in April 2024, under which Al Jazeera network’s office was closed and its work in Jerusalem and “Israel” was banned on May 5, 2024.

The law grants Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi the authority to extend the closure of Al Jazeera’s offices until the end of 2027 and allows him and the Prime Minister to decide to close foreign channels and confiscate their equipment if they are deemed to pose a threat to state security at any time, without a state of emergency such as war and without a court order.

It is noteworthy that 22 Knesset members voted in favor of the law, while 10 opposed it, including 9 Arab members of parliament.

For its part, Al Jazeera Network denied all the accusations made by the Israeli government, calling them baseless fabrications, and warned that the campaign being waged by the extreme right-wing elements in the Israeli government is endangering its crews and employees, and held the Israeli government fully responsible for their safety.