Bid by Israel's far-right to permanently ban Al-Jazeera stalls

A move by Israel's far-right to hand powers to the government to permanently ban foreign media organisations from the country has stalled after ultra-Orthodox parties boycotted a vote in the Knesset on Monday.

The bill, submitted by hardline Likud MK Ariel Kellner, would make permanent the so-called Al-Jazeera Law, which barred the Qatari broadcaster from operating inside Israel last year.

A vote in the Knesset National Security Committee scheduled for Monday afternoon was shelved after it became clear the government did not have a majority, Israel's right-wing Channel 14 reported.

Zvi Sukkot, a lawmaker representing coalition member Religious Zionism, was not in attendance, while the MK representing the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism boycotted the vote following the party's defection from the government, according to the pro-Netanyahu news channel.

This left the government short of the seven votes required to progress the bill.

Israel passed a temporary law in May 2024 that banned Al Jazeera from reporting from inside the country due to its critical coverage of its war on Gaza.

The bill hands powers to the government to crack down on news organisations it considers threats to the country's national security. The Israeli government has accused Al Jazeera of being a propaganda tool for Hamas.

Under the bill's provisions authorities can prevent media companies from broadcasting in the country, close local offices, seize equipment and revoke journalists' press credentials.

Israeli security forces raided Al Jazeera's offices in east Jerusalem and Ramallah and seized its equipment following the passage of the law.

The bill also been used to confiscate equipment from The Associated Press.

Israeli lawmakers have voted to extend the ban several times over the past 14 months. It was last renewed for another six months in May.

The ban has been condemned by rights monitors and press groups, who have warned of that the Israeli government is embarking on an unprecedented crackdown on press freedoms.

The Knesset legal advisor has said the bill could be unconstitutional.

Israel has also been sharply criticised for blocking international journalists from entering Gaza and has been accused of attempting to restrict coverage of its actions in the Palestinian territory.