The law under which the Israeli Knesset (Parliament) granted the government temporary powers to ban foreign news channels that harm the country’s national security from operating in Israel, or what was called the “Al Jazeera Law,” sparked reactions that ranged from disappointment, anger, and determination to stand firm, according to an article in Haaretz newspaper. 

The article written by journalist Nagham Zubaidat - under the title “Why does Israel fear Al Jazeera?” - stated that the Palestinians consider watching Al Jazeera’s coverage of the occupation and war in the Gaza Strip indispensable.

The writer said that the new law passed by the Knesset last Monday, which may stop the work of Al Jazeera, was met with anger and suspicion.

She added that anyone who passes through the streets and alleys of Palestinian neighborhoods during the rage of the conflict will notice that almost all of the houses glow with light emanating from television screens, as families gather around to watch Al Jazeera.

ِِAl Jazeera law

The Knesset voted on Monday in favor of what was called the “Al Jazeera Law,” which allows Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to ban foreign media outlets that harm security in Israel, led by Al Jazeera.

Zubaidat said that Palestinians of all ages in Israel have always watched Al Jazeera correspondents, such as the late Sherine Abu Aqla, Wael Al-Dahdouh, Elias Karam and Guevara Al-Badiri, covering events in the occupied territories. Viewers saw the voices of these reporters as a source of confidence in their coverage of the occupation’s actions.

She pointed out that Al Jazeera is among the few news channels that have correspondents on the ground in Gaza who are not subject to the supervision of the Israeli army, and they provided continuous coverage of the war that followed the attack of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on the seventh of last October.

After the Knesset approved the law, Netanyahu said that Al Jazeera would no longer broadcast from Israel and that it was time to expel it. He stated that he intends to move immediately - in accordance with the new law - to stop its activity, accusing it of harming Israel's security and of having actually participated in the Hamas attack that day and "incited against our soldiers," as he put it.

Al Jazeera Media Network denounced Netanyahu's statements, describing them as a dangerous and ridiculous lie, and considered them part of a series of systematic Israeli violations to silence Al Jazeera.

Hasty reaction

Zubaidat, in her article in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, quoted the head of the National Democratic Rally Party, Sami Abu Shehadeh, in a comment he published on the "Any wrongdoer fears that his crimes will be revealed."

He added that the actual dilemma in Israel stems from its fear of the truth, pointing out that the facts will not change, and that silencing Al Jazeera or any opposing voice is not the solution, as the solution lies in ending the war and its atrocities.

In a separate post in English, Abu Shehadeh wrote, “Israel needs to remain discreet so that it can continue the genocide in Gaza quietly,” adding that Al Jazeera “should be proud, as the less Israel is satisfied with its work, the better it is.”

Another political commentator, Ihab Jabareen from the northern Israeli city of Umm al-Fahm, credited Al Jazeera with “leading the new free world,” while “the Israeli media is under siege.”

He added, "This is what embarrasses Bibi (Netanyahu), and the only democracy in the Middle East," as Israel is called in the Western media.