Incoming Israeli Minister Calls for Al Jazeera Expulsion
Facts
- Itamar Ben-Gvir, head of the far-right Jewish Strength Party, has called for the expulsion of Qatar-based media outlet Al Jazeera, claiming the company is "anti-Semitic" and spreads "false propaganda" against Israel.
- This comes in response to the news network filing a submission with the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate the killing of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in May this year. Israeli Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman also called for the revocation of the press credentials and operational license of Al Jazeera on Tuesday.
- Al Jazeera submitted the ICC request on Tuesday. Akleh had spent 25 years of her career at Al Jazeera and was killed after covering an Israeli Army raid in the West Bank.
- US State Department spokesperson Ned Price also stated that the White House opposes the ICC request. Israel receives $3.8B in US security assistance yearly.
- Ben-Gvir is expected to become Israel's national security minister in the upcoming Israeli government headed by Benjamin Netanyahu.
Sources: AA, Middle East Monitor, First Post, Cradle, and Al Jazeera.
Narratives
- Narrative A, as provided by Al Jazeera. Al Jazeera has always rejected accusations of anti-Semitism, and Israel has been rightly stung by the international condemnation of its killing of Palestinian-American Abu Akleh. Israel has attempted to deflect criticism surrounding its actions by attempting to paint the media giant as dangerous, rather than taking accountability for its own actions.
- Narrative B, as provided by JNS. The suit filed by Al Jazeera to the ICC will only shine an embarrassing spotlight on the news network itself. Previously referring to the Holocaust as "alleged," Al Jazeera may eventually regret continuing the historical trend of extremists attempting to sue prominent Jews.