Israel Shuts Down Al-Mayadeen Office Linked to Hezbollah

The Israeli security cabinet agreed on Sunday night to shut down the office of the Al-Mayadeen news network affiliated with Hezbollah in Lebanon. According to regulations passed last month, the Israeli government is allowed to close foreign news agency offices that threaten the national security of the country. The request to close the Al-Mayadeen office was made by Shlomo Karhi, Israel's Minister of Communications, who stated that the network's programs 'serve the interests of Israel's enemies' and harm the national security of the country. According to the Times of Israel, Karhi's main goal was to shut down Al Jazeera's office, which he claims undermines Israel's national security. However, Qatar's involvement in negotiations aimed at freeing hostages taken by Hamas has complicated efforts to close Al Jazeera. Regarding the closure of Al-Mayadeen's office, Karhi said, 'Israel is at war. On land, in the air, at sea, in cyberspace, in radio waves, and in public awareness.' He added, 'The programs and reporters of Al-Mayadeen serve infamous terrorist organizations, and the time has come to bring them to justice.' In response to a question about the security cabinet not shutting down Al Jazeera, he said, 'The security cabinet has not discussed it.' Eli Cohen, Israel's Foreign Minister, also stated on Monday that he still supports confronting Al Jazeera's activities in the country. He responded to a question about the diplomatic feasibility of this by saying, 'I have made my opinion and position on this matter public.' The request from the Minister of Communications to close Al-Mayadeen was approved by Yoav Gallant, Israel's Minister of Defense, and was raised by Gallant during the security cabinet meeting on Sunday night. Gallant stated that he and heads of Israel's security organizations recommended that Al-Mayadeen be shut down. He said, 'The Israeli government will not allow the dangerous propaganda of Al-Mayadeen, which seeks to harm Israel's national interests and serve the goals of its enemies, during the war.' A directive to block Al-Mayadeen's online activities has now been issued, and an order to seize and confiscate its broadcasting equipment will also be issued late on Monday. The closure order for Al-Mayadeen is the first of its kind based on emergency regulations approved after the deadly Hamas attack on October 7 against Israel. Although Israel and Lebanon have been officially in a state of war for decades and despite the deep animosities of Hezbollah, which acts as the main proxy group of the Islamic Republic against Israel and Western interests in the region, Al-Mayadeen has so far been allowed to operate officially within Israeli territory.