Al Jazeera denounces Netanyahu's attempt to close Jerusalem office
Eliyahu Kamisher
TEL AVIV, Eliyahu Kamisher (dpa) - The Doha-based broadcaster Al Jazeera attacked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday over the latter's attempt to close its Jerusalem news bureau, accusing him of "arbitrary accusations and hostile statements."
"The network moreover reiterates that it will continue covering the news and events of the occupied Palestinian territories, and elsewhere, both professionally and objectively," Al Jazeera said in a statement.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Netanyahu accused the news network of inciting recent violence over a Jerusalem holy site.
Netanyahu said he had appealed several times to law enforcement authorities demanding the closure of Al Jazeera's Jerusalem office.
"If this does not happen because of legal interpretation, I will work to legislate the required laws in order to remove Al Jazeera from Israel," the premier added.
Al Jazeera said Netanyahu's statement marks "yet another episode of the ongoing vicious attack" against the news agency.
The news agency added that they will continue to work in Jerusalem and "would take all necessary legal measures in case they act on their threat."
Al Jazeera, a main conduit for news from Israel to the Arab and Muslim world, extensively covered recent tensions in Jerusalem over Israeli security measures at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound, known to Jews as the Temple Mount.
Israel on Thursday removed the last remaining security installations it had put in place at the holy site after a deadly attack sparked Palestinian protests, and Jerusalem's Muslim leaders told worshippers that they can end their protest, apparently ending the stand-off.
The network has been banned in several countries - including Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Syria - and has been accused of harbouring biases towards Islamist organizations.
Al Jazeera has been repeatedly accused of bias by Israeli authorities, and in June, Netanyahu met with top security and intelligence officials to discuss potentially shutting down the news bureau, Israeli media reported.
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Netanyahu said he had appealed several times to law enforcement authorities demanding the closure of Al Jazeera's Jerusalem office.
"If this does not happen because of legal interpretation, I will work to legislate the required laws in order to remove Al Jazeera from Israel," the premier added.
Al Jazeera said Netanyahu's statement marks "yet another episode of the ongoing vicious attack" against the news agency.
The news agency added that they will continue to work in Jerusalem and "would take all necessary legal measures in case they act on their threat."
Al Jazeera, a main conduit for news from Israel to the Arab and Muslim world, extensively covered recent tensions in Jerusalem over Israeli security measures at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound, known to Jews as the Temple Mount.
Israel on Thursday removed the last remaining security installations it had put in place at the holy site after a deadly attack sparked Palestinian protests, and Jerusalem's Muslim leaders told worshippers that they can end their protest, apparently ending the stand-off.
The network has been banned in several countries - including Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Syria - and has been accused of harbouring biases towards Islamist organizations.
Al Jazeera has been repeatedly accused of bias by Israeli authorities, and in June, Netanyahu met with top security and intelligence officials to discuss potentially shutting down the news bureau, Israeli media reported.
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