A 'dark day' for media as Israel shuts down local Al Jazeera offices
Israel claims the move was due to the threat to national security posed by the satellite news network’s operations in the country.
Al Jazeera
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'A dark day for the media. A dark day for democracy.'
The board of Israel's Foreign Press Association has responded in a statement to the shutting down of news broadcaster Al Jazeera's Israel-based offices on Sunday.
Israel claims the move was due to the threat to national security posed by the satellite news network’s operations in the country.
"This was hours after government voted to use new laws to close the news network's operations in the country."
Barbara Friedman, Digital Editor - Primedia
Video footage released showed Israeli officials entering the office and documenting the equipment inside.
"They confiscated broadcast equipment, they cut the channel from cable and satellite companies and blocked its websites."
Barbara Friedman, Digital Editor - Primedia
The move has been called a 'dark day' for media and critics have slammed the Israeli government's stance on free speech.
"Israel officials says it's just justified because Al Jazeera was a threat to national security."
Barbara Friedman, Digital Editor - Primedia
Friedman says there has been a very polarised reaction to the move on social media.
"Just looking at the socials, some people saying, 'I thought Israel was a democracy', and others saying, 'Israel's not a democracy?!'."
Barbara Friedman, Digital Editor - Primedia
Under Israel's newly passed legislation, the Communications Minister has the power to shut down foreign networks operating in Israel in the event the Defence Minister identifies that broadcasts pose “an actual harm to the state’s security.”