Concerns Rise as Israel Extends Powers to Close Foreign News Outlets

Mon Feb 02 2026 15:52:51 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Israel's parliament has approved an extension of powers allowing the shutdown of foreign broadcasters, raising alarms over press freedom and access to diverse information amidst ongoing conflict.

Israel's recent parliamentary decision to extend government powers to shut down foreign broadcasters for two more years has sparked significant backlash from press freedom advocates. This legislation, originally enacted during the Gaza war, allows for closures without a court order, targeting channels like Al Jazeera, accused by Israel of bias. Critics, including rights organizations, argue this violates freedom of expression and restricts vital information to the public.

Israel's parliament has extended an order that grants the government the ability to shut down foreign broadcasters operating within its borders. The legislation, approved by a vote of 22 to 10, was initially introduced as temporary powers during the Gaza war to close outlets perceived as threats to national security. This extension allows the government to cease operations of foreign outlets even in peacetime and without requiring a court order.

Referred to as the Al Jazeera Law, this legislation was initially utilized to shutter the Qatari-owned channel's offices and block its broadcasts in May 2024. Israel has accused Al Jazeera of demonstrating anti-Israel bias and purportedly supporting Hamas in its coverage of the conflict. Al Jazeera has vehemently denied these allegations, characterizing Israel's actions as a criminal act and an infringement on press freedom.

Rights organizations, including the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI), have criticized the temporary order as a violation of free expression and the right to information, warning that it severely restricts the public's access to diverse narratives not represented in Israeli media.

This legislative move comes on the heels of the Israeli cabinet's decision to close Army Radio (Galei Tzahal), a state-funded station that operates independently of military oversight. Defence Minister Israel Katz cited the station's shift in content away from IDF values as justification for the closure, which is slated for March 2026. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed reluctance to maintain a military-operated broadcaster, drawing parallels to oppressive regimes.

The Union of Journalists and Journalists' Organisations has announced intentions to petition the High Court against this directive, characterizing it as a severe breach of press freedom. The Israel Democracy Institute (IDI) has warned that such closures threaten the fabric of Israeli democracy and eliminate a significant portion of independent broadcasting.