The State of Israel seized media equipment from the Associated Press (AP) office in Southern Israel this week. The state claims that AP provided images to Al Jazeera in violation of a new media law established by Israeli officials.
Thousands of Clients Affected
Al Jazeera is a Qatari satellite channel and the only one among thousands of media outlets that receive videos and pictures from AP as one of its customers.
AP’s Strong Denunciation
Lauren Easten, AP’s Vice President of Corporate Communications, stated, “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.”
Legal Basis for Seizure
The Israeli officials approached the AP station in Sderot and provided AP leaders a letter from the Communications Minister stating that AP was violating Israel’s foreign broadcaster law.
Compliance with Military Censorship
Israel has long prohibited broadcasting of images and footage containing details of troop movements and sensitive security information that could endanger the safety of the troops. AP typically complies with all of the Israeli censorship rules intended to preserve security. The images in question in the current dispute show smoke present above the region of Gaza.
Refusal to Cease Transmission
Last week, Israel gave AP a verbal command to end live broadcast transmissions, and after AP refused, Israeli officials showed up at the spot to seize the camera and broadcasting equipment.
Ministry’s Statement
The Israeli Communications Ministry stated, “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.”
Opposition Leader’s Criticism
Even within the Israeli state, there was dissent to the state’s decision to confiscate materials belonging to the AP. Israeli opposition party leader and former journalist Yair Lapid said Israel’s seizure of AP materials is an “act of madness” and further said, “This is not Al Jazeera; this is an American news outlet.”
Minister’s Response
In response to criticism from Lapid and others, Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi stated that a newly passed law forbade the transmission of any content to Al Jazeera, and allows for the seizure of any equipment used in that transmission of content. The law was passed unanimously.
Closure of Al Jazeera’s Offices
The new broadcast law was the impetus for the state of Israel to shut down the offices of Al Jazeera May 5 and seize the broadcaster’s equipment. Additionally, the law allowed the state to ban Al Jazeera broadcasts in Israel and block access to Al Jazeera’s website and media accounts on the internet.
Concerns for Press Freedom
The seizure has caused a stir due to the serious concerns about freedom of the press in the western world. According to the Foreign Press Association, the implementation of Israel’s new broadcast law “could allow Israel to block media coverage of virtually any news event on vague security grounds.”
U.S. Response
The White House has responded to growing concerns, stating that the Administration is “looking into” the circumstances of the seizure. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre expressed the White House’s view that it remains “essential” that media broadcasters and journalists are able to report on the news without undue restrictions and censorship.
Israel’s Relationship with Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera has long been considered a “terror channel” by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel considers the media company to be biased against Israel and in favor of its Arab opponents as well as has accused Al Jazeera of fomenting dissension and discontentment.
Historical Context
This is not the first time that the state of Israel disrupted AP access to its broadcasting capabilities, if indirectly. In 2021, during a previous Israel-Hamas war, the Israeli military destroyed the building where AP’s offices were located in Gaza.
At the time, Israel claimed Hamas was using the property to support its military, but evidence was never provided. The AP claimed that it had no knowledge of a Hamas presence in the building in which their Gaza office was housed.
Current Conflict
This current conflict, which began in October 2022 between Hamas and Israel, has devolved into a humanitarian crisis with no end in sight. Journalists are largely responsible for providing access to footage and information that policymakers and the general public need to understand what is going on and how to respond appropriately.
The inability of an established and well-connected media broadcast company to disseminate its images according to dictates of professional standards causes alarm among watchdogs of a free press.
