Israel Bill Allowing Government to Shut Down Foreign Media Outlets Passes First Reading

A bid to make Israel’s emergency “Al Jazeera Law” a lasting power of censorship has cleared its first hurdle in the Knesset.

The measure, introduced by Likud MK Ariel Kallner, passed its initial vote on Monday with 50 members backing it and 41 opposed.

The narrow margin reflects the deep divide over whether the state should have the authority to silence foreign media outlets even in peacetime.

Kallner’s proposal would turn what was once a temporary wartime measure into a standing law, granting the government open-ended control over the presence of broadcasters in Israel.

The bill removes any requirement for court involvement, allowing the communications minister to shut down news networks without judicial review.

It also grants broad new powers. The minister could order internet companies to block online material, instruct cable and satellite providers to remove content, and direct the defense minister to disrupt foreign satellite signals to keep broadcasts from reaching Israeli audiences.