Media Freedom Coalition statement on the closure of Al Jazeera in Israel

The undersigned members of the Media Freedom Coalition are concerned with the recently adopted legislation giving temporary powers to the Israeli government to prevent foreign media networks from operating in Israel, and do not support the subsequent shut down of Al Jazeera’s operations in Israel.

A free and diverse media landscape is crucial for democracies to function, especially in times of conflict, as people rely on independent information from multiple, reliable sources to stay informed and make their decisions. This is even more important in an age of mis- and disinformation. It is essential that all journalists be given unhindered access to cover events and developments as they unfold, so that they have the possibility to report and inform transparently and factually.

It is therefore of vital importance to protect press freedom and to prevent any undue restrictions on freedom of expression and access to information.