The draft law, which aims to prevent the operation of the Qatari media network Al Jazeera and similar entities within the occupation state, authorises the minister of communications to take measures against foreign channels which Israel deems to be working against the security of the occupation state, after the approval of the prime minister and the Council of Ministers or the government.
Measures which can be taken against such media companies include: closing their offices, confiscating broadcast equipment, preventing the broadcast of the channel’s reports, removing the channel from the cable and satellite network, and blocking its websites, among other measures.
The bill was proposed by Minister of Communications, Shlomo Karhi, who said:
Committee Chairman, Knesset member Zvika Foghel, said: “Approval of this draft law constitutes an important part of the defensive wall of the State of Israel.”