The Knesset on Tuesday morning advanced legislation that would grant the government broad and permanent powers to shut down foreign media outlets operating in Israel deemed harmful to national security without requiring court approval.
The proposal, sponsored by Likud lawmaker Ariel Kallner, passed its first reading by a vote of 50 to 41. It seeks to make permanent the temporary “Al Jazeera Law,” which was enacted in 2024.
The bill now returns to the Knesset National Security Committee for further preparation ahead of its second and third readings.
“This is about defending the State of Israel from those who use media freedom as a weapon against it,” said Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi.
If the measure passes two more readings, the Minister of Communications would be able to order the closure of a foreign news network at any time — not only during wartime — and without judicial review. The bill also authorizes the minister to instruct internet and content providers to block materials considered damaging to security and allows coordination with the Defense Minister to disrupt satellite signals or broadcasts.
