Netanyahu’s Cabinet voted unanimously on Sunday to close the Al Jazeera broadcaster in Israel, according to the prime minister.
Netanyahu stated on Sunday that the government, headed by him, has unanimously decided to shut down the Al Jazeera incitement channel in Israel.
According to The Associated Press, Al Jazeera has denied encouraging violence against Israel, but the announcement shows an escalation of Israel’s ongoing dispute with Al Jazeera, funded by Qatar’s government.
Al Jazeera’s English broadcast is similar to other major networks, as per the AP, but its Arabic version often publishes video statements directly from Hamas and other militant groups in the region.
The effects of the Israeli government’s vote are not immediately clear. The AP reported that Al Jazeera correspondents discussed the potential impact of the vote on Sunday. One correspondent mentioned that it would not affect Al Jazeera's operations in the Palestinian territories, while another mentioned that the order would prohibit the channel from having offices or carrying out operations in Israel and would result in the blockage of the websites.
The vote comes during ongoing discussions about a cease-fire, with Qatar helping to broker the deal between Israel and Hamas.
The Associated Press contributed reporting.
