Israel shuts down local Al Jazeera offices in ‘dark day for the media’

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

Israel shuts down local Al Jazeera offices in âdark day for the mediaâ

Foreign Press Association decries move under new law based on claim network is a threat to national security

www.theguardian.com

Note this is in response to the Gaza War. So far Israel shut down Al Jazeera because it accuses the news outlet of being a security threat to the country. However there have been instances where its reporters were put in harms way while covering the story.

Israeli authorities shut down the local offices of Al Jazeera on Sunday, hours after a government vote to use new laws to close the satellite news network’s operations in the country.


Critics called the move, which comes as faltering indirect ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas continue, a “dark day for the media” and raised new concerns about the attitude to free speech of Benjamin Netanyahu’s hardline government.


Israeli officials said the move was justified because Al Jazeera was a threat to national security. “The incitement channel Al Jazeera will be closed in Israel,” the country’s prime minister posted on social media after the unanimous cabinet vote.

A government statement said Israel’s communications minister had signed orders to act immediately to close al Jazeera’s offices in Israel, confiscate broadcast equipment, cut the channel off from cable and satellite companies and block its websites.

 

[Kelly A]

Yeah, that wasn't a good look for Israel. Despite Aljazeera being a mouthpiece for certain Arab political factions, it's the most consumed TV media in the MENA. Shutting down an important editorial voice in the Middle East, even if they're being jackasses editorially, sends the wrong message.

 

[davideduardo]

Yeah, that wasn't a good look for Israel. Despite Aljazeera being a mouthpiece for certain Arab political factions, it's the most consumed TV media in the MENA. Shutting down an important editorial voice in the Middle East, even if they're being jackasses editorially, sends the wrong message.

On the other hand, Aljazeera has sustained the practice of putting reporters in dangerous situations, and I can see that Israel does not want another case of one of their people being killed in the ongoing action there.

 

[Kelly A]

On the other hand, Aljazeera has sustained the practice of putting reporters in dangerous situations, and I can see that Israel does not want another case of one of their people being killed in the ongoing action there.

I heard on the radio, in sort of a sideline comment, that something like thirty members of the press have died or are missing and presumed dead in Gaza. Any reporter going in there is just like reporting on a war story without the small amount of safety from at least being embedded with an army. Israel doesn't like Aljazeera because they're showing the aftermath of the war, including very graphic videos and photos of dead Palestinians, and I suppose throwing an Arab editorial twist in for good measure.

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

Israeli Officials Shut Down AP Live Shot, Seize Equipment For Violation Of Media Law

UPDATED: The Associated Press said that Israeli authorities seized camera and broadcasting equipment and shut down a live shot, contending that the wire service was in violation of a new law restricting Al Jazeera. Al Jazeera is one of the AP‘s customers. “The Associated Press decries in the...

deadline.com

Woah this is a crazy situation with the AP and Israel. On one hand AP News had to be there because they are one of two major media outlets that have the resources to cover Gaza and Israel. However, Israel security forces accuse the AP News for posing as a security threat to them.

UPDATED: The Associated Press said that Israeli authorities seized camera and broadcasting equipment and shut down a live shot, contending that the wire service was in violation of a new law restricting Al Jazeera.

Al Jazeera is one of the AP‘s customers.

“The Associated Press decries in the strongest terms the actions of the Israeli government to shut down our longstanding live feed showing a view into Gaza and seize AP equipment,” a spokesperson said in a statement.

 

[davideduardo]

Woah this is a crazy situation with the AP and Israel. On one hand AP News had to be there because they are one of two major media outlets that have the resources to cover Gaza and Israel.

AP is not a media outlet; it is a news agency or service. It sells news to media outlets who are subscribers. There are many other news gathering agencies, including Al Jazeera, Reuters, FrancePress, NnfoBaie, Prensa Latina, TASS and the Chinese news agency Xinhua to name a few. Some media outlets, like the BBC, also have news "agencies" which are part of the service they offer to listeners.

However, Israel security forces accuse the AP News for posing as a security threat to them.

It all depends on what the crew was doing. Let's wait until we see if they were, perhaps, in a prohibited or dangerous zone to begin with

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

Here is an updated response from AP and Israeli government over the situation.

The AP said later today that the Israeli government had reversed course and would return the equipment.


The AP had been reporting in Sderot today and its crew was informed that it was in violation of the law. Earlier this month, the government of Benjamin Netanyahu voted to shut down Al Jazeera, citing a law that restricts a foreign media channel “that is acting against the state.” Al Jazeera said that the move also included withdrawal of crew accreditations. banning distributors from transmitting its broadcasts and blocking Al Jazeera’s websites.


In a statement, the Israeli communications ministry said, “After being warned, the Ministry of Communications confiscated a camera of the AP news agency that was broadcasting while trying to trace the activities of our forces, and transferred the footage to the Al-Jazeera station, in violation of the law.