Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, instructed the Government Press Office (GPO) to ban the Bureau Chief of Al Jazeera in Israel from a seminar on free press on Thursday.
Netanyahu’s latest move comes as Israel is attempting to ban Al Jazeera’s operations in Israel, accusing the Qatari-based news network of incitement towards violence – an accusation Al Jazeera denied.
In a statement on the GPO’s Facebook page, the office said Netanyahu had instructed it not to allow the participation of the network’s bureau chief, Walid al-Omari.
The seminar was entitled “Limits of free expression: the dilemma between national security and freedom of the press – Al Jazeera, a case study.’’
Netanyahu also said that legal steps should continue to close the Al Jazeera offices in Jerusalem and revoke the press cards of the networks’ reporters in Israel.
In August, the GPO said it would not revoke the press credentials of another Al Jazeera journalist after threatening to do so over comments he made regarding Palestinian “resistance” towards Israel.
Israel’s moves to close the network have provoked criticism from Israeli press associations.
Al Jazeera previously said Israeli actions are an attempt “to silence the freedom of expression in the region”.
Countries around the Middle East had banned Al Jazeera amid a bitter diplomatic row between Qatar and its neighbours.
(dpa/NAN)
Leave a Reply