Al Jazeera denounces Israeli shutdown

Al Jazeera has denounced the Israeli government’s decision to close Al Jazeera Media Network’s bureau in Jerusalem and revoke the media credentials of its journalists.

Al Jazeera spoke out after Israeli Communications Minister, Ayoub Kara, said during a press conference at the weekend that the government also planned to shut down Al Jazeera’s cable and satellite transmissions.

Kara accused the news network of inciting violence and presenting unprofessional journalism and called for the relevant authorities to act upon this decision to block the network from operating in the country.

“Al Jazeera denounces this decision made by a state that claims to be ‘the only democratic state in the Middle East’,” said the company in a statement.

“It also finds the justifications made by the minister of communications as odd and biased as they are in unison with the actions carried out by a number of Arab countries – Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, and Jordan – that have closed the network’s bureaus, shut down its cable and satellite transmissions, and blocked its websites and applications.”

The company said it would closely monitor the developments that result from the Israeli decision and will take “the necessary legal measures”, while continuing to cover news and events in the occupied Palestinian territories in “a professional and objective manner”.

Kara’s intervention comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last month accused Al Jazeera of inciting violence during its coverage of events surrounding access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque.