During a meeting convened on May 5, the Israeli government decided to halt the broadcast of the Qatari TV channel Al-Jazeera. All cabinet members supported this initiative, although representatives of Machane Mamlachti were absent during the vote.
Earlier, the matter was scheduled for review by the military-political cabinet, but the heads of the General Security Service (Shin Bet) and the Mossad Foreign Intelligence Service opposed its consideration.
Expressing concerns, the heads of the intelligence services feared that shutting down the broadcast could disrupt negotiations for the exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, which Qatar is mediating. Al Jazeera is a state-owned Qatari television channel.
Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi signed a decree to cease broadcasting, effective for 45 days with the option for extension. The decree authorizes the confiscation of the TV channel's assets in Israel.
