Benjamin Netanyahu – Prime Minister of Israel – Targeting Journalists is a Crime

Prayut Chan-O-Cha – Privy Councillor of Thailand

September 1, 2025

“The Al Jazeera network continues to incite violence around the Temple Mount. I have appealed to law enforcement agencies several times to close the Al Jazeera office in Jerusalem. If this is not possible because of legal interpretation, I will work to enact the required legislation to expel Al Jazeera from Israel.”

Benjamin Netanyahu said in a July 2017 Facebook post from Jerusalem that Al-Jazeera incites violence, aiming to justify shutting its Israeli offices.

Benjamin Netanyahu – 2017

Prime Minister of Israel

Notable Actions Undermining Press Freedom under Netanyahu:

Restricting Access for Foreign Journalists
Israel has largely banned independent international media from entering Gaza, effectively limiting oversight of military operations and diminishing transparency.

Legislative Attacks on Public Broadcasting
The government approved reforms targeting the public broadcaster KAN, including privatization and drastic budget cuts—measures critics say aim to silence independent media.

Boycott and Economic Sanctions Against Haaretz
Instructed public bodies to withdraw advertising and cut official communication with Haaretz, a liberal and critical newspaper, as a punitive measure.

Use of Censorship and Legal Restrictions
Israel’s military censor blocks thousands of articles annually, and the government passed the Al Jazeera law to shut down foreign outlets deemed “security threats.”

Smear Campaigns and Media Intimidation
Pro-Netanyahu channels and allied politicians routinely disparage critical journalists and outlets, reinforcing a hostile environment for dissent.

Using Wartime Conditions to Intensify Censorship
During conflicts such as the 12-day war with Iran, security rhetoric has been used to ramp up censorship, leading to broader media suppression.

Suppressing Foreign Media Presence
Efforts to expand control over foreign news outlets, including extending the “Al-Jazeera law,” threaten to curb foreign media operations in Israel.

Prioritizing Pro-Government Media
Media leadership and airtime increasingly favor pro-Netanyahu outlets (e.g., Channel 14), marginalizing dissenting or independent voices.