Dark day for democracy as Netanyahu shuts down Al Jazeera
ON SUNDAY, across Israeli pay-TV networks, the Al Jazeera news network went dark.
This was the ultimate punishment from the Israeli right-wing government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, angered at the network’s coverage of the war in Gaza.
This action by the Israeli government was also a warning shot to other news organisations operating within Israel and the Occupied Territories to tone down any criticism of Israel’s military campaign, which has, according to reports, killed close to 35000 Palestinians and left millions displaced.
While the modern state of Israel often boasts to its detractors of being “the only democracy” in the Middle East where the Basic Laws guarantee all sorts of freedoms, Netanyahu’s government has actively sought to hollow out these constitutional protections.
Netanyahu’s shutting down of Al Jazeera is one way in which his government shows how it will deal with dissenting voices who refuse to toe the official line as enunciated by Israel Defence Forces (IDF) spokespeople.
For South Africans, Netanyahu’s strategy is not unfamiliar. The apartheid government shut down newspapers, jailed journalists, and severely censored and harassed those who were fortunate enough to work.
Today, South Africa serves as a powerful example of the importance of freedom of expression in a democratic society. A free, critical media remains an asset to our country and its citizens.
Ultimately, Netanyahu’s order to ban Al Jazeera might satisfy his supporters, but it will not win Israel the public relations war. It certainly will not stem the flow of information coming out of Gaza, and the toll the war is exacting on ordinary people.
The lessons that others can learn from South Africa are clear. We deepen democracy when we can listen to opposing views, engage in constructive dialogue, and respectfully disagree without resorting to violence.
The cornerstones of mutual respect have been laid, but it remains a work in progress.
Failure to uphold these principles risks taking us back to a dark place in our collective memories, where freedom of expression was a luxury afforded to the few rather than a right enjoyed by all.