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Wednesday, May 22, 2024

Israeli officials seize AP equipment, citing alleged media law violation

al Jazeera:

Israeli officials seize AP equipment, citing alleged media law violation

Associated Press news agency decries seizure of its equipment in southern Israel ‘in the strongest terms’.

plumes of smoke rising from a city
Smoke billows after an Israeli strike on Jabalia as seen from Beit Lahiya, in the northern Gaza Strip [AFP]

Israeli officials have seized a camera and broadcasting equipment belonging to The Associated Press (AP) news agency in southern Israel, accusing the news organisation of violating a new media law by providing images to Al Jazeera.

The Qatari-owned media network and satellite channel is among thousands of clients that receive live video feeds from the AP and other news organisations.

The AP denounced the move and accused the government of abusing the recently passed foreign media law.

“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,” said Lauren Easton, vice president of corporate communications at the AP.

“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 broadcaster law. We urge the Israeli authorities to return our equipment and enable us to reinstate our live feed immediately so we can continue to provide this important visual journalism to thousands of media outlets around the world.”

Video Duration 02 minutes 10 seconds

Officials from the Communications Ministry arrived at the AP location in the southern town of Sderot on Tuesday afternoon and seized the equipment. They handed the AP a piece of paper, signed by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, alleging it was violating the country’s foreign broadcaster law.

Shortly before the equipment was seized, the AP was broadcasting a general view of famine-struck northern Gaza, where Israeli forces continue to press a ground and aerial assault.

The AP said it complies with Israel’s military censorship rules, which prohibit broadcasts of details like troops movements that could endanger soldiers. The live shot has generally shown smoke rising over the besieged territory.

The seizure followed a verbal order Thursday to cease the live transmission – which the news organisation refused to do.

“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,” the ministry said in a statement.

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid decried the move as “an act of madness.”

“This government behaves as if it has decided to make sure at all costs that Israel will be swayed all over the world. They went crazy,” he said.

The White House said it was a “concerning” development.

“We stand firm in our belief that journalists have the ability, right to do their jobs,” the White House said.

On May 5, the Israeli cabinet voted unanimously to shut down Al Jazeera in the country, immediately ordering the closure of its offices and a ban on the company’s broadcasts and websites. Al Jazeera condemned the decision as a “criminal act”.

It came weeks after Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, passed a law on April 1 that allowed Israel to temporarily shut down foreign media outlets — including Al Jazeera — if it deems them a threat to security.

Al Jazeera’s Mohammed Jamjoom, reporting from the Jordanian capital, Amman, said that the AP has “thousands of clients around the world”.

“The Israeli government is utilising the law that they passed in order to shut down Al Jazeera, and now they’re going after the AP, which provides thousands of clients … a live feed of what’s going on in northern Gaza,” Jamjoom said.

“That [live feed] now has been shut down,” he said.

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Israel has long had a rocky relationship with Al Jazeera, accusing it of bias against it and collaboration with Hamas. The Qatar-based network has repeatedly rejected the accusations.

Al Jazeera is one of the few international news outlets that has remained in Gaza throughout Israel’s continuing assault.

At least 35,647 people, mostly women and children, have been killed in Israel’s assault on Gaza since October, according to Palestinian health officials.

Israel launched the war on October 7 after Hamas led an attack on southern Israel, killing at least 1,139 people, according to an Al Jazeera tally based on Israeli statistics.

SOURCE: AL JAZEERA AND NEWS AGENCIES

8 comments:

  1. ~~~~~

    https://twitter.com/Sprinterfactory/status/1793177086816813475?t=I00TO3Id57n67SfkTdyZNg&s=19

    Israeli Foreign Minister:

    Today I am sending a strong message to Ireland and Norway that Israel will not silently ignore this issue (by announcing recognition of a Palestinian state).

    I have just ordered the Israeli ambassadors from Dublin and Oslo to be returned to Israel for urgent consultations in Jerusalem.

    The hasty move by both countries will have other serious consequences. If Spain follows through on its intention to recognize a Palestinian state, a similar step will be taken against it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. ~~~~~

    https://twitter.com/ShaykhSulaiman/status/1793244390871179286?t=zznSgRimcCRqK4UI_wC0vg&s=19

    BREAKING NOW: After Norway, Spain, and Ireland recognized the Palestinian state, Israeli Minister of National Security Ben-Gvir storms Al Aqsa mosque as a way of provocation.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. ~~~~~

      https://x.com/narrative_hole/status/1793554110899524077?t=lYVjexgnM8ebZlnI6EPUPA&s=19

      We will build a new settlement for every country that recognises Palestine

      - Israeli Finance Minister

      Delete
    2. he means in stolen land in West Bank

      Delete
  3. Understand if not readily acceptable and a need for proof. I can only watch the situation as it unfurl through the coming months. At the least there is an awareness if situation really goes bad dramatically.

    ~~~~~

    https://twitter.com/KillAuDeepState/status/1793245649867301157?t=FcgxTZSOuwi1dmhvzEfYnA&s=19

    The Big Picture -

    The KM have submitted to the US Military.

    They’ve been caught committing the most heinous crimes against humanity.

    We are in the phase of a gradual but escalating awakening to these crimes and are being SHOWN what they have done.

    ‘The Plan’ is the largest and most complex Military Psychological operation in history - it is worldwide as all significant countries are either submitted or onboard.

    Elites that have flipped are humiliating themselves publicly according to their plea deals.

    Those that have not flipped will be (or have been) dealt with in Military Tribunals.

    For the public to take notice they must be shaken to the core.

    Most of the conspiratorial expectations for the end of this year will occur - I won’t go into them as there are too many to repeat.

    They have been predictively programmed in advance to reinforce narratives as they occur.

    The main game, of course, is the transition from a broken usurious economic system to a fair and efficient one.

    Many of the Political Psyops have been created to make this transition as smooth as possible.

    The template has been completed long ago and all major economies (US/China/Russia/EU etc) are onboard. The Military has gamed this operation for many years.

    Things will get very very uncomfortable and prepping is recommended.

    Civil War and WWIII will feel imminent but won’t eventuate despite reaching the precipice.

    However a revolution will result.

    For the KM these times will be very difficult.

    My working hypothesis is the US Military is seeing if they make amends and are watching carefully.

    As we know history proves they repeatedly attempt to enslave humanity even after their ways are revealed.

    So potentially this ends with the diaspora returning to Israel voluntarily because of host nation resentment.

    The masses will blame Secret Societies as much as the KM.

    Treasonous ideologies will not be tolerated.

    The ‘Scare Events’ experienced will create a new society and stronger generations to come.

    It will be the wake-up we had to have.

    The cleanup will take decades and be citizen run from the bottom up.

    Hard work will be required but the long-term future is extremely positive.

    Buckle-up buttercups.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Norway, Spain, and Ireland must also recognise Taiwan, East Turkestan, Karen State, Barisan Revolusi Nasional Melayu Patani... all have legitimate claims to Independence...

    Don't be afraid of China or Myanmar or Thailand recalling their Ambassadors.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yr mfering legitimacy built upon know-nothing fart!

      Ooop… perhaps u don't know Likud was/is a terrorist outfit when Israel was admitted into the roll call of the UN!

      Delete
  5. Guess internet was made for the awakening...and the need to control it.

    A datapoint.

    ~~~~~

    https://x.com/BGatesIsaPyscho/status/1793434555233296611?t=QVR07mdEdYiSqijfTNeNVQ&s=19

    🚨🇮🇪 Ballyogan, Ireland

    Huge clashes tonight in Ireland as The Police beat & arrest protesters venting their frustrations over the continued mass import of unknown foreign migrants into their local community.

    Reports members of the public have been badly injured.

    Ireland is ready to erupt. This won’t end well.

    ReplyDelete