The Israeli government approved a decision on Sunday to sever all ties with the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, according to an article published on the Jewish News Syndicate website.
According to a statement from Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi’s office, the move was prompted by “numerous articles that harmed the legitimacy of the state of Israel in the world and its right to self-defense, particularly in light of the recent statements by the publisher of Haaretz Amos Schocken”. It also accuses him of expressing “support for terrorism and called for sanctions against the government.”
Karhi stated, “We cannot allow a reality in which the publisher of an official newspaper in the state of Israel calls for sanctions against it and supports the state’s enemies in the midst of a war, while international bodies harm the legitimacy of the state of Israel, its right to self-defense, and actually impose sanctions against it and against its leaders.”
Schocken's comments were made during a Haaretz-organized conference in London on October 27. There, he reportedly referred to Palestinian fighters as "freedom fighters", accused the Israeli government of “apartheid” in occupied West bank and Gaza, and claimed that the Israeli army was “conducting a second nakba”.
In response, multiple Israeli ministries, including Foreign Affairs, Education, Culture and Sport, and Diaspora Affairs, announced the cancellation of business ties with Haaretz. Sunday’s cabinet decision formalized this, cutting off all state-paid advertising, subscriptions and other financial connections with the publication.
This has reportedly dealt a significant financial blow to Haaretz, with the newspaper losing hundreds of subscribers following Schocken’s remarks. According to Israeli media Walla News, internal meetings at Haaretz described “a sharp rise in cancellations and a steep decline in advertising revenue,” with the impact being one of the most severe in years.
Meanwhile, Justice Minister Yariv Levin is pursuing legislation to criminalize calls by Israeli citizens for international sanctions against Israel. If passed, the law would impose penalties of up to 20 years in prison for public advocacy of sanctions targeting Israel, its leaders, security personnel or citizens.
Levin argued that such actions amount to “encouraging moves aimed at denying Israel’s right to self-defense,” a particularly egregious offense during a time of existential conflict and the captivity of Israeli citizens by “terrorist groups”.
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