The government greenlit Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi's proposal on Sunday to shut down the Lebanese Al-Mayadeen network, which is directly affiliated with Hezbollah. Karhi enacted orders to seize equipment and block the channel's websites.
At the onset of the war, closure orders against the network were issued, effectively keeping the channel and its reporters out of Israel for several weeks. However, two weeks ago, an Al-Mayadeen reporter broadcast from the horrific massacre site in Majdal Shams, just a day after 12 children and teenagers were killed by a Hezbollah rocket. Reporter Naea Mahamid covered the scene, with the upper part of the screen labeled: "Majdal Shams - the Occupied Syrian Golan."
Reacting to the reappearance of "terrorist representatives masquerading as journalists," about two weeks ago, Minister Karhi sought and obtained government approval for the closure orders, backed by security officials and the Prime Minister.
The network itself is closely linked with Hezbollah and serves as a mouthpiece for the organization’s propaganda. In recent months, Hezbollah’s claims of responsibility and various messages have been broadcasted through Al-Mayadeen, alongside other media outlets such as Al-Manar, which also functions as a Hezbollah propaganda tool.
On November 15, Karhi signed orders limiting Al-Mayadeen’s broadcasts in Israel for 30 days. This action followed security officials' recommendations and the Security Cabinet’s approval. These orders expired on December 14, prompting Karhi to extend them for another 30 days. However, when the regulations expired on January 13, the Lebanese channel resumed broadcasting from Israeli territory unimpeded until Sunday.
The network late Sunday afternoon condemned the Israeli government decision."Al-Mayadeen condemns the Israeli government's decision and sees it as further proof of the choice to block the media. Al-Mayadeen believes that 'the occupation' repeatedly reveals its hostile face to the professional, free media, which is committed to human issues."
The network also noted that it believes the fact that Israel blocks media outlets that are not its allies is a sign of weakness and that Israel is angry that they adopted a professional and humanitarian approach at the al-Mayadeen network.
"Al-Mayadeen will not submit to blackmail and pressure," the network asserted, adding that "Al-Mayadeen renews its commitment to refuse any normalization with the occupation, directly or indirectly."
"Al-Mayadeen will not back down from supporting the Palestinians," the network also said.