Israel announced on Thursday that it is revoking the press credentials of Al Jazeera journalists working in the country, four months after shutting down the Qatari television network.
“The Government Press Office (GPO) is revoking the (press) cards of Al Jazeera journalists working in Israel,” it said in a statement.
“This is a media outlet that disseminates false content, which includes incitement against Israelis and Jews, and constitutes a threat to (Israeli) soldiers,” the statement quoted Press Office Director Nitzan Chen as saying.
A source close to the case told AFP that for the time being, the decision is to be applied to four full-time Al Jazeera journalists who are either Israeli citizens or Palestinian residents of annexed east Jerusalem.
The remainder of Al Jazeera staff in the country, mainly video producers and photographers who the government considers not to be actively producing content, will retain their Israeli press cards.
The GPO press card is not mandatory for working as a journalist in Israel, but without it, it is virtually impossible to access the Israeli parliament or government ministries, or gain access to military infrastructure.
The GPO is affiliated with the prime minister’s office and in charge of accrediting journalists working in Israel.
When contacted by AFP, Al Jazeera’s bureau chief for Israel and Palestinian territories, Walid Omary, said the network had not been informed of the latest Israeli decision.
“When we receive (the notification officially), we will see,” Omary said.
The Israeli military has repeatedly accused journalists from the Qatari network of being “terrorist agents” in Gaza affiliated with Hamas or its ally, Islamic Jihad.
Al Jazeera denies the Israeli government’s accusations and claims that Israel systematically targets its employees in the Gaza Strip.
With AFP
