War, Censorship, and the Press: Inside Israel’s Crackdown on Foreign Media

In a coordinated operation overnight in Haifa, the Israel Police and the Ministry of Communications deployed joint teams to investigate the source of foreign media broadcasts, specifically targeting Al Jazeera transmissions suspected of undermining national security. The operation was conducted under the authority of the Law to Prevent Harm by Foreign Broadcasting Entities, as announced in a joint statement by the Minister of National Security and the Minister of Communications.

The teams inspected photographers and reporters at the scene and confirmed they were not affiliated with Al Jazeera or Al-Mayadeen, but rather with other foreign media outlets. These outlets are not subject to a blanket filming ban, provided they comply with Israel’s censorship regulations.

The statement clarified that the Chief Military Censor and the General Security Service (Shin Bet) hold the legal authority to enforce censorship rules and act against foreign journalists, outside of Al Jazeera and Al-Mayadeen, who film prohibited locations, such as sites of missile impacts.

The operation follows heightened security concerns amid ongoing hostilities with Iran, which have seen intensified Israeli strikes and Iranian missile barrages.

The Ministers’ statement also revealed that the Minister of National Security conferred with the Police Commissioner, agreeing that the police would assist the Shin Bet in identifying individuals filming missile impact sites, which could compromise security. Additionally, the Minister of Communications requested an urgent meeting with the Government Legal Advisor and the Censor to refine enforcement procedures for foreign media violating censorship rules.

The government commended citizens who reported the Haifa incident, urging continued vigilance. Authorities called on the military, the Censor, and the Shin Bet to exercise their powers to halt broadcasts that endanger national security, even from outlets beyond Al Jazeera and Al-Mayadeen.