Israeli foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman said today that the country will “work to prevent” Al Jazeera from operating within its borders, the International Business Times reports:
[h/t Mediaite]“Qatar ( the Gulf state where Al Jazeera is based) has turned into a global problem. Al Jazeera is a central pillar of the propaganda apparatus of Hamas,” he said. The news network employs several Israeli journalists. Freedom of the press is enshrined in Israeli law and, according to Anshel Pfeffer, a writer for the liberal daily Haaretz, only the Supreme Court could ban their reports.
Al Jazeera Arabic had earlier reported that Israel had been using phosphorus bombs in east Gaza, which it had pledged to stop using last year. The company is also funded by Qatari owners, who Israel believe to be financing Hamas. It is unknown whether the minister was alluding to the Al Jazeera English or Al Jazeera America arm of the company.
Advertisement