Al Jazeera's operations in Israel to be shut down, Netanyahu's cabinet decides

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet on Sunday (May 5) decided to temporarily shut down Al Jazeera's operations in the Jewish state.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet on Sunday (May 5) decided to temporarily shut down Al Jazeera's operations in the Jewish state. The Israeli cabinet asserted that the Qatari television network "threatened national security", news agency Reuters reported.

"Al Jazeera correspondents have harmed the security of Israel and incited against Israel Defence Force soldiers. The time has come to eject Hamas's mouthpiece from our country," Netanyahu said.

"The incitement channel, Al Jazeera, will be closed in Israel," he further said.

"Israel's communications minister signed a decree to act immediately", a government statement said. But one lawmaker, who backed the move, said Al Jazeera could challenge the decision in court.

According to the order, Al Jazeera's offices in Israel will be shut, its broadcast equipment will be confiscated and its channel will be cut off from cable and satellite companies. Also, the company's websites will be blocked as per the measure.