Given Israel’s complete disregard for decency and international law in its attacks on Gaza, it has increasingly moved toward attempts to silence internal dissent. The latest is now Haaretz newspaper, which has been a voice for much of the Israeli opposition to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies.
In an article published Nov. 23, Haaretz reveals that Israel’s Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi is targeting the newspaper, and has submitted a proposal to take action against Haaretz. Karhi said that the newspaper was “sabotaging Israel in wartime” and was an “inflammatory mouthpiece for Israel’s enemies.” He also argues that “Haaretz has taken an offensive line which undermines the war’s goals and disparages the military effort and its social fortitude.” Karhi is a member of Netanyahu’s Likud party.
Karhi sent a letter to Israeli Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs, proposing to prohibit the publication of official government notices in Haaretz. The proposal also aims to cancel any subscriptions that state or public officials receive from the newspaper, and halt any funding it receives from the government.
In response, the paper has been defended by many within Israel and around the world, including the Israeli journalists union. For example, CNN’s Jake Tapper called the move “A push to undermine the free press from the Netanyahu government.”
