By Janet Ekstract ISTANBUL- The Israeli government is using its new foreign broadcast law to prevent The Associated Press (AP) from streaming live footage of Gaza, according to AP officials. On Tuesday, as AP journalists were running live feed of a general view of Gaza when their equipment was confiscated. As Vice President of Corporate Communications at AP, Lauren Easton said: “The Associated Press decries in the strongest terms, the actions of the Israeli government to shut down our longstanding live feed showing a view into Gaza and seize AP equipment.” Israel’s opposition leader Yair Lapid labeled his government’s actions “an act of madness,” adding “This is not Al Jazeera. This is an American news outlet.” Lapid further stated “The government acts as if it has decided to make sure, at any cost, that Israel will be shunned all over the world.” It was in April that Israel’s parliament passed a new law that gives the government permission to close foreign networks operating in Israel. News agencies can have their equipment confiscated if the defense minister identifies their broadcast presents “an actual harm to the state’s security.” After the law was passed, Israeli authorities raided and closed down Al Jazeera television offices and confiscated their equipment on May 5. Easton further stated “The shutdown was not based on the content of the feed but rather an abusive use by the Israeli government of the country’s new foreign broadcast law.”
Meanwhile, Israel’s Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, accused AP of violating the new law and said that officials from his ministry went to the AP office, seizing a camera and broadcasting equipment. At issue in the incident is Israeli authorities’ claim that the news agency gave images to the Qatar-funded Al Jazeera television who is among the thousands of clients that receive live video feed from the AP and other news organizations. The AP also said that it complies with Israel’s military censorship rules that prohibit broadcasting troop movements that could endanger soldiers. The AP has demanded Israel immediately return its equipment and reinstate its live feed “so we can continue to provide this important visual journalism to thousands of media outlets around the world.” According to media reports, AP was issued a verbal order last Thursday to stop its live transmission which it refused to do and is the reason its equipment was seized. In a statement from Israel’s Communication Ministry, it read “In accordance with the government decision and the instruction of the communications minister, the communications ministry will continue to take whatever enforcement action is required to limit broadcasts that harm the security of the state.”
According to Karhi, the new law states that any equipment used to deliver Al Jazzera content can be seized. In a response to Lapid, on X, Karhi said “We will continue to act decisively against anyone who tries to harm our soldiers and the security of the state, even if you don’t like it.” International media groups signaled the alarm on press freedom after Israel’s move on Al Jazeera, earlier this month. Meanwhile, the Foreign Press Association in Israel said “With this decision, Israel joins a dubious club of authoritarian governments to ban the station,” referring to the closure of Al Jazeera. The Foreign Press Association in Israel represents a multitude of international news outlets operating in the country and the Palestinian territories. They added “And the government may not be done. The prime minister has the authority to target other foreign media that he deems to be “acting against the state.” The new law also gives the Karhi a wide berth in enforcement against any media outlets. As the Foreign Press Association in Israel further noted “This is a dark day for the media. This is a dark day for democracy.” In a press briefing on Tuesday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the U.S. is “looking into” the incident and that it is “essential” for journalists to be allowed to do their jobs.
Photo : AA
