Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revived moves Monday to shutter Qatari satellite television station Al Jazeera in Israel, pledging to take "immediate action" to close the station's local office while the war in Gaza continues.
The Knesset has approved the bill allowing the temporary closure in Israel of foreign broadcasters considered to be a threat to national security.
The law approved would allow Netanyahu and the security cabinet to shut the station for a period of 45 days, which would be renewable, and would stay in force until the end of July or until the end of major military operations in Gaza.
Al Jazeera, which has been fiercely critical of Israel's military operation in Gaza, from where it has reported around the clock, has previously accused Israel of systematically targeting its offices and personnel.
Communications Minister Shlomo Karai accused Al Jazeera of encouraging hostilities against Israel. "It is impossible to tolerate a media outlet, with press credentials from the government press office and with offices in Israel, acting from within against us, certainly in wartime," he said.
However, the move to allow the government to close down the local offices of foreign media groups drew concern from the United States, Israel's main ally, which said it was critical to maintain freedom of the press.
Doha has mediated ceasefire negotiations under which Israel recovered some of those taken hostage.
In what may have been a hint that Al Jazeera could have legal recourse against any closure, an Israeli official added during a briefing: "There's due process, so we're not there yet."
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