Israel Moves to Isolate Haaretz Newspaper Following Publisher's Critique of Gaza Offensive
In a new move against Haaretz, Israel's longest-running newspaper, government ministries announced they would sever ties with the publication following statements by publisher Amos Schocken criticizing the current Gaza offensive and calling Israel's treatment of Palestinians an “apartheid regime.” Speaking at a Haaretz conference in London, Schocken described the ongoing Israeli military assault in Gaza as a “second Nakba,” referring to the displacement and dispossession of Palestinians during the 1948 creation of the Israeli state.
The Ministries of Interior, Education, and Diaspora Affairs confirmed they would no longer engage with Haaretz. Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi went further, suggesting a comprehensive government boycott that would end all state advertising and cancel subscriptions across government institutions, including the military, police, and prison services.
Schocken's remarks in London included a sharp critique of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing government, accusing it of imposing a harsh “apartheid regime” on Palestinians and disregarding the consequences of its actions in the West Bank and Gaza. Schocken referred to Palestinian resistance forces as “freedom fighters,” sparking intense backlash from the government and pro-government groups.
“The Netanyahu government doesn’t care about imposing a cruel apartheid regime on the Palestinian population,” Schocken stated. He further argued that Israel’s policies only perpetuate conflict, with Gaza now facing what he characterized as a “second Nakba.” Schocken also called for international intervention, saying, “The only way to establish a necessary Palestinian state is to apply sanctions against Israel, against the leaders who oppose it, and against the settlers.”
Also Read: Israeli Forces Withdraw from Lebanese Border Village of Khiam After Failed Invasion Attempt
In response to the government backlash, Schocken issued a clarification, acknowledging that he should have specified “freedom fighters who also use terrorist methods” and asserting that terrorism is not a legitimate means of resistance. He contrasted groups like Hamas with the Palestinian Authority, which, under leaders like Mahmoud Abbas, he noted, has pursued a diplomatic approach and renounced violence.
The government’s isolation of Haaretz, a well-regarded newspaper in Israel, has raised concerns among press freedom advocates, who view it as part of a broader pattern of suppressing dissent amid Israel’s escalated operations in Gaza. The move has also intensified fears over the limitations on critical discourse within Israel as the military campaign in Gaza continues, amid growing international scrutiny of Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.
#dekodei #haretz #israel #gaza
Source: News websites