Israel court approves temporary ban on Al Jazeera, citing national security
World
Israel court approves temporary ban on Al Jazeera, citing national security
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - An Israeli court on Wednesday upheld a 35-day ban on Al Jazeera operations in Israel imposed by the government on national security grounds and a minister said he hoped to extend the ban for another 45 days when it runs out on Saturday.
Israeli authorities raided a Jerusalem hotel room used by Al Jazeera as its office on May 5 and said they were shutting the operation down for the duration of the Gaza war, accusing the broadcaster of encouraging hostilities against Israel.
Al Jazeera rejected the accusations as a "dangerous and ridiculous lie" that put its journalists at risk.
Wednesday's court ruling retroactively approved a 35-day ban until June 8.
Tel Aviv District Court Judge Shai Yaniv said he had been provided with evidence, which he did not specify, of a long-standing and close relationship between the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas and Qatari-backed broadcaster Al Jazeera, accusing the channel of promoting Hamas goals.
"Freedom of expression has an special importance during time of war. However, when there is significant harm to state security, the latter consideration comes first," he wrote.
Al Jazeera, which has criticised Israel's military operations in Gaza, from where it has reported throughout the war, told the court it did not incite violence or terrorism and that the ban was disproportionate, according to court documents.
Wheelchair-bound in an overcrowded hospital in Gaza, leukaemia has left 10-year-old Siraj Yassin sapped of strength.
Regarding the allegation of ties with Hamas, it said its journalists had a wide range of confidential sources on both the Israeli and Palestinian sides.
The channel has accused Israel of deliberately killing several of its journalists in Gaza. Israel says it does not target journalists.
