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Israel to close Al Jazeera offices, take network off-air Al Jazeera: Israel seeks to shut offices and take network off air
(about 3 hours later)
Israel wants to close broadcaster Al Jazeera's local offices and revoke its journalists' press credentials, the communications minister has said. Israel is seeking to close Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera's offices in the country and revoke its journalists' media credentials.
Ayoub Kara alleged that the channel supported "terrorism", and said both its Arabic and English-language channels would be taken off air. Communications Minister Ayoub Kara alleged that the channel supported terrorism, and said both its Arabic and English-language channels would be taken off air.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently accused the broadcaster of incitement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accuses the broadcaster of "incitement".
Al Jazeera has fiercely defended its reputation and says it is independent. Al Jazeera has condemned the decision.
Mr Netanyahu accused the pan-Arab TV channel of fuelling a recent crisis around a holy site in Jerusalem known to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as the Temple Mount. The Israeli government said it was basing its decision on a similar ban by several Sunni Arab states, amid their diplomatic rift with Qatar, which hosts and funds Al Jazeera.
New security measures imposed by Israel after two policemen were killed nearby sparked protests by Palestinians, and the Israeli government eventually removed the security apparatus, which included metal detectors.
The Israeli prime minister vowed in late July to "expel Al Jazeera" for its reporting of the issue, which he said incited violence.
Mr Kara said cable TV providers had agreed to take the network off the air, but that closing its Jerusalem bureau would need further legislation.Mr Kara said cable TV providers had agreed to take the network off the air, but that closing its Jerusalem bureau would need further legislation.
Al Jazeera says its journalists were barred from the press conference where the announcement was made. "Al Jazeera has become the main tool of Daesh [the Islamic State group], Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran," he told a news conference.
Al Jazeera has come under attack from several governments in the region in recent months to the concern of free press campaigners. Mr Netanyahu tweeted his congratulations to Mr Kara, "who on my instructions took concrete steps to end Al Jazeera's incitement".
Saudi Arabia and Jordan both shut bureaux of the Qatari-funded broadcaster as part of their diplomatic campaign against the tiny Gulf state. An Al Jazeera official in the Qatari capital Doha told AFP that the channel "deplores this action from a state that is called the only democratic state in the Middle East, and considers what it has done is dangerous".
Mr Netanyahu had accused the pan-Arab TV channel of fuelling a recent crisis around a holy site in Jerusalem known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as the Temple Mount.
New security measures imposed by Israel after two policemen were killed nearby sparked protests by Palestinians, and the Israeli government eventually removed the security apparatus, which included metal detectors.
The Israeli prime minister vowed in late July to "expel Al Jazeera" for its reporting of the issue, which he said had incited violence.
The Al Jazeera official defended its coverage, saying it was "professional and objective".
The network's editor in Jerusalem has accused Mr Netanyahu of collusion with his autocratic Arab neighbours in an attack on free and independent media.
Al Jazeera hits back at closure callsAl Jazeera hits back at closure calls
Shutting the network was on a list of 13 demands by the four Arab nations leading the boycott of Qatar that were tabled in June but later dropped. Al Jazeera has come under attack from several governments in the region in recent months to the concern of free press campaigners.
Qatar's Arabic-language news channel first launched in 1996, and shook up the media landscape in the Middle East by airing criticisms of governments and rulers in the region. Saudi Arabia and Jordan both shut bureaux of the Qatari-funded broadcaster against the tiny Gulf state.
Others, including the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, have blocked its channel and websites.
Israel's communications ministry said on Sunday that "nearly all countries in the region... have concluded that Al Jazeera incites terrorism and religious extremism".
The ministry added that it had become "ridiculous that the channel continued to broadcast from Israel".
Shutting the network was on a list of 13 demands by the four Arab nations leading a boycott of Qatar that were tabled in June.
The Arabic-language news channel first launched in 1996, and shook up the media landscape in the Middle East by airing criticisms of governments and rulers in the region.
Al Jazeera says it was the first Arabic channel to feature Israeli politicians and commentators on the air.Al Jazeera says it was the first Arabic channel to feature Israeli politicians and commentators on the air.
Israel has however frequently accused it of being biased in reporting the Israel-Palestinian conflict.Israel has however frequently accused it of being biased in reporting the Israel-Palestinian conflict.