Joining Arab states, Israel says it plans to ban Al-Jazeera

FILE - In this May 4, 2011 file photo, a Palestinian barber gives a customer a haircut as a TV set shows a demonstration in Egypt, on the Al Jazeera channel, at a barber shop in Jerusalem's Old city. Israel's communications minister said, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017, that he wants to shut down pan-Arab broadcaster Al-Jazeera in the country. Ayoob Kara, of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party, said he wants the news network's press cards revoked and has asked cable providers to block their transmissions. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner, File) FILE - In this May 4, 2011 file photo, a Palestinian barber gives a customer a haircut as a TV set shows a demonstration in Egypt, on the Al Jazeera channel, at a barber shop in Jerusalem's Old city. Israel's communications minister said, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017, that he wants to shut down pan-Arab broadcaster Al-Jazeera in the country. Ayoob Kara, of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party, said he wants the news network's press cards revoked and has asked cable providers to block their transmissions. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner, File)

By Associated Press August 6, 2017 2 min read

JERUSALEM (AP) – Israel said Sunday it plans to ban Qatar’s flagship Al-Jazeera news network from operating in the country, joining regional Arab states that shut down the broadcaster amid allegations that it incites to violence.

Communications Minister Ayoob Kara said he plans to revoke the press credentials of Al-Jazeera journalists, effectively preventing them from working in Israel.

Kara said he has asked cable and satellite networks to block Al Jazeera transmissions and is seeking legislation to ban them altogether.

The minister, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party, gave no timetable for such measures.

Doha-based Al-Jazeera did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Its Arab and English channels reported the news.