Israeli authorities seized a camera and broadcast equipment belonging to The Associated Press in Sderot on Tuesday, accusing the news agency of violating a new media law by providing footage to banned Al Jazeera.
The Qatari satellite channel is among thousands of customers who receive live video feeds from the AP and other news organizations.
The so-called Al Jazeera law, which gives the government temporary powers to prevent foreign information networks from operating in Israel if they are considered to undermine national security, was adopted on second and third readings during of the Knesset plenary session last month.
In a statement, the Ministry of Communications said: “After being notified, the Ministry of Communications confiscated a camera belonging to the AP news agency which was broadcasting while trying to monitor the activities of our forces, and transferred the images to Al Jazeera station, in violation of the law.”
The statement said that “staff of the Ministry of Communications had already warned the AP agency last week that, in accordance with the law and the government’s decision, they were not authorized to broadcast broadcasts on Al Jazeera. However, AP has decided to continue broadcasting on the channel, which seriously undermines national security.”
Thus, the press release continues, “in accordance with the decision of the government and the order of the Minister of Communications, the Ministry of Communications will continue to take coercive measures to the extent necessary to limit broadcasts that harm the security of the State “.
Despite the Communications Ministry’s assertion that the footage contained sensitive information regarding the location of Israeli troops in Gaza, Channel 12 reported Tuesday evening that in its review of the footage provided to Al Jazeera, it found no no evidence that this was the case.
The report adds that the Communications Ministry did not speak with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office or with the prime minister himself before seizing AP’s equipment, and that despite negative reactions to both internationally and in Israel, he intends to confiscate the equipment of other media. agencies in Israel that provide content to Al Jazeera.
AP denounced the decision, with its vice president for corporate communications, Lauren Easton, saying that it “was not based on the content of the feed but rather on the Israeli government’s misuse of the new law of country on foreign broadcasters”.
She urged Israeli authorities to return the news service’s equipment and allow its journalists “to immediately restore our live broadcast so that we can continue to provide this important visual journalism to thousands of media outlets around the world.” .
AP video equipment sits on the floor of a building in Sderot, southern Israel, shortly before it was seized by Israeli authorities, May 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Josphat Kasire)
The White House called the incident “concerning” and said it was engaging directly with Israel to request that its seizure of the equipment be reversed. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the White House believes journalists should have the ability and right to do their jobs.
Meanwhile, opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi for the seizure, calling it an “act of madness.”
“The confiscation of the equipment of AP, the largest news agency in the world, by Shlomo Karhi’s men is an act of madness. It’s not Al Jazeera, it’s an American media outlet that has won 53 Pulitzer Prizes,” Lapid said.
“This government behaves as if it had decided to ensure, at all costs, that Israel is ostracized throughout the world. »
In response to Lapid, Karhi tweeted that his men are “dedicated professionals” who enforce the law, and responded to Lapid by stating: “We will continue to act decisively against anyone who attempts to harm our soldiers and the security of the country, even if you don’t like it.
Karhi also said the decision was taken to confiscate AP equipment “following orders unanimously signed by the government, with the overwhelming support of all security forces (which) state that the devices used for broadcasting Al Jazeera content must be seized from any person or company.” .”
Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi arrives at a meeting of Likud factions in the Knesset, January 8, 2024. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
The Foreign Press Association (FPA), which represents international journalists in Israel, also condemned the seizure, calling it “the latest in a series of dissuasive measures taken by the Israeli government to stifle the media.”
“Israel’s record on press freedom has already been dismal throughout the war. Throughout the conflict, it prevented independent access to Gaza for foreign journalists. Today, he has taken another step backwards from the democratic ideals he claims to defend,” the FPA said.
AP said Tuesday that it was broadcasting a general view of northern Gaza and that the agency was complying with Israel’s military censorship rules, which prohibit the broadcast of details such as troop movements that could endanger soldiers. . Live shooting usually shows smoke rising over the territory.
The AP acknowledged that the seizure followed a verbal order given Thursday to cease live transmissions – which the news agency refused to do.
In this still from video, Israeli officials seize AP video equipment from a building in Sderot, southern Israel, May 21, 2024. I (AP Photo/Josphat Kasire)
The so-called Al Jazeera law empowers the Minister of Communications to order “content providers” to stop broadcasting the channel in question; order the closure of the channel’s Israeli offices; order the confiscation of the channel’s equipment; and order the channel’s website to be taken offline, if the server is physically located in Israel, or block access to the website.
These orders will be valid for 45 days but may be renewed for additional periods of 45 days.
Israeli authorities used this law to temporarily close Al Jazeera’s offices on May 5, confiscate the channel’s equipment, ban its broadcasts and block its websites.
News Source : www.timesofisrael.com
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