Israel shuts Lebanese Al-Mayadeen news channel

By Abdel Rauf Arnaut

JERUSALEM (AA) – Israel’s Security Cabinet approved a proposal on Monday to block the Lebanese Al-Mayadeen television channel and shut its offices in the country.

The proposal was put forward by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, who said the channel’s broadcasts “serve the interests of Israel’s enemies” and harm Israel’s national security.

According to The Times of Israel newspaper, an order to confiscate the channel’s broadcasting equipment will be issued later Monday.

Israeli authorities accuse the Lebanese channel of being a mouthpiece for the Hezbollah group, with which Israeli forces have exchanged cross-border fire since the outbreak of the Gaza war last month.

“Israel is at war. On land, in the air, at sea in cyberspace, in the electromagnetic spectrum, and in (the public) consciousness,” Karhi said. “Broadcasts such as these identify with the enemy, while harming state security and will be blocked,” he added.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel “will not allow the dangerous propaganda of the network's broadcasts which tries, during the war, to serve the goals of the enemy.”

The order to shut down Al Mayadeen is the first such decision to be made under a temporary measure approved last month, allowing the communications minister to shut down foreign media outlets deemed to be harmful to national security.

As the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip entered its 38th day, more than 11,180 Palestinians have been killed, including 4,609 children and 3,100 women, and more than 28,200 others injured, according to official Palestinian figures.

Thousands of buildings, including hospitals, schools, and houses, have also been destroyed or damaged in the ongoing offensive.