Censorship in Israel

{{short description|none}}  {{Update|reason=New ban issued by the knesset on foreign media channels|date=April 2024}} {{censorship by country}}

'''Censorship in Israel''' is officially carried out by the Israeli Military Censor, a unit in the Israeli government officially tasked with carrying out preventive censorship regarding the publication of information that might affect the security of Israel. The body is headed by the Israeli Chief Censor, a military official appointed by Israel's Minister of Defense, who bestows upon the Chief Censor the authority to suppress information he deems compromising from being made public in the media,<ref name="Benn2001">{{cite web |author=Aluf Benn |date=July–August 2001 |title=Israel: Censoring the past |url=http://www.bsos.umd.edu/pgsd/people/staffpubs/Avner-BASreport7-01.htm |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090619213158/http://www.bsos.umd.edu/pgsd/people/staffpubs/Avner-BASreport7-01.htm |archivedate=June 19, 2009 |accessdate=31 December 2009 |work=Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, College of Behavioral and Social Sciences |publisher=University of Maryland}}</ref><ref name="Kumaraswamy1998">{{cite web |author=P.R. Kumaraswamy |date=September 1998 |title=India and Israel: Evolving Strategic Partnership |url=http://www.biu.ac.il/Besa/publications/40pub.html |accessdate=31 December 2009 |work=Mideast Security and Policy Studies |publisher=Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies}}</ref> such as Israel's nuclear weapons program and Israel's military operations outside its borders. On average, 2,240 press articles in Israel are censored by the Israeli Military Censor each year, approximately 240 of which in full, and around 2,000 partially.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 June 2021 |title=נתונים חדשים חושפים טפח מאחורי הקלעים של יחסי הצנזורה הצבאית והעיתונות הישראלית |url=https://www.the7eye.org.il/419412 |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=העין השביעית |language=he-IL}}</ref>

Articles concerning potentially controversial topics must be submitted to the Israeli Military Censor in advance; failing to do so may cause the reporter to lose their right to work as a journalist in Israel<ref name="NYTimes">{{Cite news |date=June 29, 1982 |title=Censorship by Israel: How It's Carried Out |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/06/29/world/censorship-by-israel-how-it-s-carried-out.html }}</ref> and, in the case of foreign reporters, to be barred from the country.<ref name="BBCsorry">{{Cite web |date=March 12, 2005 |title=BBC says sorry to Israel |url=http://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/mar/12/israel.broadcasting |website=the Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Matar |first=Haggai |date=2020-03-09 |title=IDF censor redacted two thousand news items in 2019 |url=https://www.972mag.com/idf-censor-israeli-media-2019/ |access-date=2021-03-04 |website=+972 Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=12 July 2018 |title=IDF Military Censor banned nearly 300 articles last year |url=https://www.jpost.com/international/idf-military-censor-banned-nearly-300-articles-last-year-562318 |access-date=2021-03-04 |website=The Jerusalem Post |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Censorship of Israeli press == The Reporters Without Borders report on Israel states that "Under Israel's military censorship, reporting on a variety of security issues requires prior approval by the authorities. In addition to the possibility of civil defamation suits, journalists can also be charged with criminal defamation and "insulting a public official". There is a freedom of information law but it is sometimes hard to implement. The confidentiality of sources is not protected by statutory law".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Israel |url=https://rsf.org/en/country/israel |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=RSF |language=en}}</ref>

Every journalist working within Israel is required to be accredited by the Israeli Government Press Office. The office is allowed to deny applications based on political or security considerations.<ref name="USDoS" />

Following the 2017 Qatar diplomatic crisis, Israel took steps to ban Qatar-based Al Jazeera by closing its Jerusalem office, revoking press cards, and asking cable and satellite broadcasters not to broadcast Al Jazeera. Defence minister Avigdor Lieberman had described some of Al Jazeera's reports as "Nazi Germany–style" propaganda. It was not clear if the measures covered Al Jazeera English, considered less strident.<ref name="guardian-20170806">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/06/israeli-government-impose-ban-al-jazeera-news-network |title=Israeli government moves to impose ban on al-Jazeera news network |last=Chulov |first=Martin |newspaper=The Guardian |date=6 August 2017 |access-date=7 August 2017}}</ref>

=== Gag orders === {{excerpt|Gag order|Israel}}

=== Gaza war and ''Al Jazeera'' law === On 1 April 2024, the Knesset passed the "''Al Jazeera'' law", which gives the Israeli government the power to close foreign news networks operating in the country and confiscate their equipment if they are deemed to be threats to national security. The law, passed in a 71 to 10 vote, was planned to be used against the Qatari news channel Al Jazeera, according to Minister of Communications Shlomo Karhi. The law can be applied for an initial 45-day period but can be renewed.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sokol |first1=Sam |last2=Sharon |first2=Jeremy |date=1 April 2024 |title=Law allowing government to temporarily shut down Al Jazeera in Israel passed by Knesset |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-urges-knesset-to-pass-law-allowing-shuttering-of-al-jazeera/ |work=The Times of Israel}}</ref>

On 21 April 2024, the Communications Ministry shut down and seized the broadcasting equipment of an Associated Press livestream overlooking northern Gaza, claiming that the wire service was providing information on the live stream to Al Jazeera, one of its clients, in violation of the law. The AP had refused an earlier verbal order the previous week to shut down the feed. According to the AP, it was in compliance with Israel's censorship rules prohibiting the coverage of details that could endanger Israeli lives such as troop movements and characterized the government's actions as "abusive". Later the same day, Karhi ordered the return of the equipment to the AP.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rasgon |first=Adam |date=21 May 2024 |title=Israel Seizes Camera From A.P., Citing Use of Its Images by Al Jazeera |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/21/world/middleeast/israel-ap-al-jazeera-cameras.html |access-date=21 May 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name="apnews20240521">{{Cite web |date=2024-05-21 |title=Israeli officials seize AP equipment and take down live shot of northern Gaza, citing new media law |url=https://apnews.com/article/live-transmission-israel-associated-press-57e8f662907334ba3599156276381190 |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref>

In September 2024, Israel raided and shut down the Al Jazeera bureau in Ramallah. This followed Israel's previous shutdown of the Al Jazeera office in East Jerusalem four months earlier.<ref name="aljazeera20240922">{{Cite web |date=2024-09-22 |title=Israeli soldiers raid, order closure of Al Jazeera office in Ramallah |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/9/22/israeli-soldiers-raid-al-jazeera-office-in-ramallah |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref>

On 24 November 2024, Israel's government ordered a boycott of the newspaper ''Haaretz'' by government officials and anyone working for a government-funded body, and banned government advertising with the newspaper.<ref name="theguardian20241124">{{Cite news |last=Burke |first=Jason |date=2024-11-24 |title=Israeli government orders officials to boycott left-leaning paper Haaretz |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/24/israeli-government-orders-officials-to-boycott-left-leaning-paper-haaretz |access-date=2024-11-25 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> According to ''The Guardian'', ''Haaretz'' "had published a series of investigations of wrongdoing or abuses by senior officials and the armed forces, and has long been in the crosshairs of the current government."<ref name="theguardian20241124" />

As of 2025, Israel ranks 108th in the World Press Freedom Index, previously 88th in 2020.<ref name="rsf-israel">{{Cite web |title=Israel : Toxic environment |url=https://rsf.org/en/israel |access-date=2021-03-04 |website=Reporters without borders |language=en}}</ref> This assessment focuses solely on the media situation within Israel and does not account for the widespread killings of journalists in Gaza. According to a report by +972 Magazine, Israel's military censorship reached unprecedented levels in 2024. The report indicates that, in that year, the publication of 1,635 articles was completely banned, while another 6,265 articles faced partial censorship. These figures suggest that, on average, more than 20 reports and articles per day were subjected to direct intervention by the military censorship unit.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Israel sees unprecedented spike in media censorship |url=https://www.972mag.com/israeli-military-censor-media-2024/&ved=2ahUKEwjZs-6c0pOOAxXbBdsEHTFoAR4QFnoECBYQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1pQ1c-lPYk0BJb6202cNoP |access-date=28 June 2025 |website=972mag.com |language=}}</ref>

Israeli military censorship again peaked during the Twelve-Day War, targeting the publication of strikes on or near military targets in Israel.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-05 |title=Twelve-day war: Impact of Iran’s strikes censored by Israel |url=https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20250805-twelve-day-war-impact-of-iranian-strikes-censored-israel |access-date=2025-08-08 |website=France 24 |language=en}}</ref>

In August 2025, the Israeli Army Censorship Office issued an order prohibiting the publication of any information regarding the disappearance of four Israeli soldiers during the "El Zaitoun" operation in Gaza.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-30 |title=Israeli soldier killed, 11 wounded in intense fighting near Gaza City as 4 remain missing: Report |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/israeli-soldier-killed-11-wounded-in-intense-fighting-near-gaza-city-as-4-remain-missing-report/3673274 |access-date=2025-08-31 |website=Anadolu Ajansı |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-30 |title=Hamas ambush in Gaza leaves 7 Israeli soldiers injured, 4 missing: Media reports |url=https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContentP/58/552128/War-on-Gaza/Hamas-ambush-in-Gaza-leaves--Israeli-soldiers-inju.aspx |access-date=2025-08-31 |website=Ahram Online|language=en}}</ref>

===Twelve-Day War=== Media restrictions in Israel were further intensified after Iranian missile strikes in June 2025 that resulted in the deaths of 28 individuals. Israel has acknowledged that it experienced over 50 missile strikes during the Twelve-Day War with Iran; however, the full extent of the damage may remain unknown due to stringent press limitations. As stated by the Israeli government press office, any broadcast originating from a "war zone or missile strike site," particularly in proximity to military installations and oil refineries, necessitates written authorization from the military censor. Throughout the conflict with Iran, foreign journalists in Israel were prohibited from filming locations affected by Iranian missile attacks.<ref>{{cite web |title=Iran strikes damage hard to assess under Israeli military censorship |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250626-iran-strikes-damage-hard-to-assess-under-israeli-military-censorship |website=France 24}}</ref>

===2026 Iran war=== During the 2026 Iran War between Israel and Iran, the Israeli military censor imposed strict restrictions on both domestic and international media coverage. Journalists were prohibited from publishing detailed information about Iranian missile impacts, defensive interceptor locations, and certain images or footage that could be considered operationally sensitive. The censorship body required media outlets to submit content for review before publication, thereby limiting real‑time reporting and the release of certain visual material.<ref>{{cite web |title=Israel’s Censor Unit Revs Up |url=https://www.cjr.org/feature/israeli-military-censor-unit-idf-intelligence-corps.php |website=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=‘Our coverage is not truthful’: How Israel is censoring reporting on the war |url=https://www.972mag.com/israel-media-censorship-iran-war/ |website=}}</ref>

== Censorship of Palestinian press == Before the Oslo Accords, Israeli police and government controlled the Palestinian territories, censoring access to books and information for Palestinians. By 1991, some 10,000 books were banned, along with fax machines, and a number of phone lines had been cut. In addition, publications of content considered "politically significant" in the West Bank was prohibited, and Arab publications were prevented from being distributed.{{dubious|date=December 2018}}<ref>{{Cite book |last=D'Souza |first=Frances |url=https://archive.org/details/informationfreed0000unse |title=Information Freedom and Censorship: World Report 1991 |publisher=American Library Association |year=1991 |isbn=0-8389-2156-6 |location=Chicago, Illinois |url-access=registration}}</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=Citation is a world report from 1991 – age matters in humanities, and this would be a PRIMARY source for 1991. a SECONDARY source somewhat distant from events would be much better.|date=December 2018}}

Reporters Without Borders have raised serious concern regarding the treatment of journalists in Israel, particularly Palestinian journalists. Their current section on Israel states: "[…] journalists are exposed to open hostility from members of the government. Smear campaigns have been waged against media outlets and journalists by politicians with the help of their party and supporters, exposing the targets to harassment and anonymous messages and forcing them seek personal protection. […] The Israel Defence Forces often violate the rights of Palestinian journalists, especially when they are covering demonstrations or clashes in the West Bank or Gaza Strip"<ref name="rsf-israel" />

In their section on Palestine, they write that "the Israeli forces have continued to subject Palestinian journalists to arrest, interrogation, and administrative detention, often without any clear grounds. In recent years, the Israeli authorities have also closed several Palestinian media outlets for allegedly inciting violence."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Palestine : Harassed journalists|url=https://rsf.org/en/palestine|access-date=2021-03-04|website=Reporters without borders|language=en}}</ref>

On 7 December 2021, Reporters Without Borders and the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor called for an immediate end to the Israeli travel bans that prevent dozens of Palestinian journalists from leaving the West Bank and Gaza Strip. At that time, RSF was aware of at least 21 Palestinian journalists who were banned from travelling abroad. In many cases, the travel bans have remained in place for years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://euromedmonitor.org/en/article/4777/RSF-and-Euro-Med-condemn-Israeli-travel-bans-on-Palestinian-journalists|title=RSF and Euro-Med condemn Israeli travel bans on Palestinian journalists |accessdate=7 December 2021|website=Euro-Med Monitor}}</ref>

On 18 August 2022, Israeli forces issued military orders imposing the closure of seven prominent Palestinian human rights groups' offices after accusing them of operating as fronts for terrorist organizations.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 August 2022 |title=Israel shuts down 7 offices of orgs. in W. Bank designated 'terrorist' |url=https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-714975 |access-date=2023-08-22 |website=The Jerusalem Post |language=en-US |issn=0792-822X}}</ref> The UN and other international organizations condemned Israel's escalating attacks against Palestinian civil society.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2022/08/un-experts-condemn-israeli-suppression-palestinian-human-rights|title=UN experts condemn Israeli suppression of Palestinian human rights organisations|accessdate=24 August 2022|website=OHCHR}}</ref>

=== Military censorship === The Israeli Military Censor has the power to prevent publication of certain news items. The censorship rules largely concern military issues such as not reporting if a missile hit or missed its target, troop movements, etc. but it is also empowered to control information about the oil industry and water supply.<ref name="USDoS">{{cite web | url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2006/78854.htm | title=Israel and the occupied territories – 2006 | publisher=US Department of State Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor | work=Country Reports on Human Rights Practices | date=March 6, 2007 | access-date=November 5, 2014}}</ref> Journalists who bypass the military censor or publish items that were censored may be subject to criminal prosecution and jail time; the censor also has the authority to close newspapers. However, these extreme measures have been rarely used.<ref name=EaP>{{Cite web |url=http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002876486 |title=Editor & Publisher: AP Reveals Israeli Censorship, Says It Will Abide By Rules |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070703035228/http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002876486|archivedate=July 3, 2007}}</ref> One notable instance where a newspaper was closed temporarily was in the case of the Kav 300 affair where it was eventually discovered that the censor was used by the Shin Bet to cover up internal wrongdoings in the agency and led to one of the biggest public scandals in Israel during the 1980s. Following the incident the two main papers, ''Haaretz'' and ''Yediot Ahronot'', stopped participating in the Editors' Committee.

In 1996 a new agreement was reached and the Editors' Committee resumed operation. The new agreement allowed military censorship only of articles clearly harmful to national security and allowed the supreme court to override military decisions.

According to information provided by the military censor in response to a Freedom of Information request, in 2017 the censor banned the publication of 271 articles outright, and fully or partially redacted 21% of the articles submitted to it.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Forward| title = Israel Censored a News Story every 4 Hours Last Year | url = https://forward.com/fast-forward/404928/israel-censored-a-news-story-every-4-hours-last-year/ | author = Alyssa Fisher | date = July 4, 2018}}</ref>

In 2018, the censor prohibited the publication of 363 news articles, and partially or fully redacted 2,712 news items submitted to it for prior review.<ref>{{Cite web|first=Haggai|last=Matar|date=2019-03-15|title=A spike in censorship: Israel censored on average one news piece a day in 2018|url=https://www.972mag.com/idf-censor-press-freedom-israel-2018/|access-date=2021-03-04|website=+972 Magazine|language=en-US}}</ref> This amounts to more than one news piece being censored and seven news items being redacted per day, on average.

One very commonly used way for Israeli media to circumvent censorship rules is to leak items to foreign news sources, which by virtue of being located outside of Israel are not subject to Israeli censorship. Once published, the Israeli media can simply quote the story.<ref name="Benn2001"/><ref name="Kumaraswamy1998"/>

Israeli laws outlaws hate speech and "expressing support for illegal or terrorist organizations".<ref name=USDoS /> Section 173 of the legal code makes it a crime to publish any "publication that is liable to crudely offend the religious faith or sentiment of others."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110521175811/http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/features/make-fun-of-god-but-leave-his-believers-alone-1.98346 "Make fun of God, but leave his believers alone"], ''Haaretz'', 27 August 2003</ref>

In addition to media censorship, Israeli cinemas are subject to regulation regarding the exhibition of pornography and television stations face restrictions on early broadcasting of programs that are unsuitable for children.

In 2024, the military censor completely banned 1,635 press articles and redacted parts of 6,265 others.<ref>{{cite news|title = Breaking new records, Israel sees unprecedented spike in media censorship | author = Haggai Matar | newspaper = +972 magazine | date = 2 May 2025 | url = https://www.972mag.com/israeli-military-censor-media-2024/}}</ref>

== Killing of journalists == {{See also|Killing of journalists in the Gaza war|List of journalists killed in the Gaza war}} In 2019, Christophe Deloire, director-general of Reporters Without Borders, accused Israel of war crimes after two journalists were shot and killed by the Israeli Defense Forces in Gaza while covering a protest.<ref name="jpost20190521">{{Cite web |date=21 May 2019 |title=Reporters Without Borders: Israel committed war crimes against press |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/reporters-without-borders-israel-committed-war-crimes-against-press-590207 |access-date=2021-03-04 |website=The Jerusalem Post |language=en-US |issn=0792-822X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-02-28 |title=UN commission: Israeli snipers 'intentionally shot' Palestinian journalists in 2018, killing 2 |url=https://cpj.org/2019/02/un-commission-israeli-snipers-intentionally-shot-p/ |access-date=2021-03-04 |website=Committee to Protect Journalists |language=en-US}}</ref> In an interview with the Jerusalem Post, Deloire said that "when Israel shot those journalists, it was intentional… The journalists could be clearly identified as journalists, with cameras and jackets and it could not be just by chance".<ref name="jpost20190521" />

A commission of inquiry mandated by the United Nations Human Rights Council came to the conclusion that the shooting with live ammunition by the Israeli Defense Forces, which ultimately resulted in 183 casualties, was a "serious human rights and humanitarian law violations" which "may constitute war crimes or crimes against humanity". The Commission found "reasonable grounds" to believe that Israeli snipers shot at journalists, while knowing they were clearly recognizable as such.<ref>{{Cite web |title=No Justification for Israel to Shoot Protesters with Live Ammunition |url=https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/NewsDetail.aspx?NewsID=24226&LangID=E |access-date=2021-03-04 |website=OHCHR}}</ref>

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 18 Palestinian journalists were killed in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories between 2001 and 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory Archives |url=https://cpj.org/mideast/israel-and-the-occupied-palestinian-territory/ |access-date=2021-03-04 |website=Committee to Protect Journalists |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2021, Israel bombed and completely destroyed the building with the headquarters of the Associated Press and Al Jazeera in the Gaza Strip.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-05-15 |title='Give us 10 minutes': How Israel bombed a Gaza media tower |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/15/give-us-10-minutes-how-israel-bombed-gaza-media-tower |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en}}</ref>

In 2022, Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was killed with a shot to her head while covering an operation of the Israel Defense Forces in the Palestinian city of Jenin. Upon doing its own investigation, American news channel CNN concluded that her death was the result of a targeted Israeli killing.<ref name="proposes">{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Initial IDF probe of reporter's death proposes 2 scenarios for who fired fatal shot |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/initial-idf-probe-of-reporters-death-proposes-2-scenarios-for-who-fired-fatal-shot/ |website=Times of Israel}}</ref> On 5 September, the IDF admitted a "high possibility" that the journalist was "accidentally hit" by army fire, but said that, despite US requests to do so, it would not undertake a criminal investigation into her death.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Hadas Gold and Abeer Salman |date=September 5, 2022 |title=Israeli military admits Shireen Abu Akleh likely killed by Israeli fire, but won't charge soldiers |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/05/middleeast/idf-shireen-abu-akleh-investigation-intl/index.html |website=CNN}}</ref>

In the six months following the deadly Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, Reporters Without Borders reports more than 100 journalists were killed by the Israel Defense Forces in Gaza.<ref name="rsf-israel" />

In 2024, the Committee to Protect Journalists ranked Israel as the second worst country in the world for allowing the murderers of journalists to go unpunished.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Scott |first1=Liam |title=Haiti, Israel ranked worst for securing justice in journalist killings |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/haiti-israel-ranked-worst-for-securing-justice-in-journalist-killings/7845113.html |access-date=1 November 2024 |website=Voice of America}}</ref>

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, in 2024 and 2025, the majority of journalists and media workers killed around the world were killed by Israel.<ref>{{cite web |title=2024 is deadliest year for journalists in CPJ history; almost 70% killed by Israel |url=https://cpj.org/special-reports/2024-is-deadliest-year-for-journalists-in-cpj-history-almost-70-percent-killed-by-israel/ |website=Committee to Protect Journalists |language=en |date=February 12, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Record 129 press members killed in 2025; Israel responsible for 2/3 of deaths |url=https://cpj.org/special-reports/record-129-press-members-killed-in-2025-israel-responsible-for-2-of-3-of-deaths/ |website=Committee to Protect Journalists |language=en |date=February 25, 2026}}</ref>

== Notable incidents == * In 1960 two science fiction stories were published that circumvented censorship. The first was about Rudolf Teichmann and told the story of Eichmann's kidnapping. Uri Avnery's HaOlam HaZeh magazine published a story about the Lavon Affair.{{Citation needed|date=September 2024}} * Mordechai Vanunu who served 18 years in prison for treason and espionage was released in 2004, but is still under restrictions on speech and movement.<ref name=USDoS /> A BBC reporter was barred from the country after publishing an interview with him without handing it over to the censors first.<ref name=BBCsorry /> * Israel has banned the use of the word Nakba in Israeli Arab schools and textbooks. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu justified the ban by saying that the term was "propaganda against Israel".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSLM2389 |title=Israel bans "catastrophe" term from Arab schools |publisher=Reuters |date=2009-07-22}}</ref> * The death of Ben Zygier in 2010, an Australian-Israeli citizen who was allegedly recruited by Mossad, was censored until Australian news media broke the story in early 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Koutsoukis |first=Jason |date=2010-06-22 |title=Uproar in Israel over top secret prisoner |url=https://www.smh.com.au/world/uproar-in-israel-over-top-secret-prisoner-20100622-yvok.html |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-02-23 |title=Prisoner X story continues to unfold |url=https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/correspondentsreport/prisoner-x-story-continues-to-unfold/4536216 |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=ABC listen |language=en-AU}}</ref> * Early in 2016, the Military Censor wrote to at least 30 Israeli bloggers and Facebook page owners, demanding that any postings with military or security-related content be submitted for review before publication.<ref name=bloggers>{{cite news | url = https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2016-02-04/ty-article/.premium/military-censor-takes-on-bloggers-facebook-pages/0000017f-e0b5-d9aa-afff-f9fd075a0000 | newspaper = Haaretz | title = Israel's Military Censor Takes on Dozens of Bloggers, Facebook Pages | date = February 4, 2016 | author = Gili Cohen}}</ref> The request has the force of law.<ref name=bloggers /> * In September 2024, the Israeli military besieged and forcibly shut down the offices of Al Jazeera Arabic in Ramallah, despite the city being designated Area A under the Oslo Accords.<ref name="aljazeera20240922" />

== Banned films == {{main list|List of films banned in Israel}} Israel banned all films produced in Germany from 1956 until 1967.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UyIvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zN4FAAAAIBAJ&pg=971,1381626&dq=israel+bans+film&hl=en Israel lifts total ban on German films.] ''Canadian Jewish Chronicle Review.'' 14 April 1967.</ref> * 1957: ''The Girl in the Kremlin'' was banned because it may have harmed Israel's diplomatic relations with Moscow.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=n_kjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XiUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7184,3395403&dq=israel+bans+film&hl=en Israel Bans US Film.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160801131120/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=n_kjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XiUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7184,3395403&dq=israel+bans+film&hl=en |date=2016-08-01 }} ''The Milwaukee Journal.'' 17 August 1957.</ref> * 1957: ''China Gate'' was banned in Israel for indulging in excessive cruelty. The Israeli film censorship board indicated the film depicted Chinese and Russian soldiers as "monsters".<ref>[https://archive.today/20120714201356/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=C140AAAAIBAJ&sjid=c-AFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2750,287607&dq=israel+bans+film&hl=en Israel Bans Film Depicting Reds as 'Monsters'.] ''The Modesto Bee.'' 2 October 1957.</ref> * 1965: ''Goldfinger'' played for six weeks before the Nazi past of Gert Fröbe, who played the title villain, was disclosed, despite him leaving the party in 1937.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wcoNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_nMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7211,2830203&dq=israel+bans+film&hl=en Israel Bans 'Goldfinger' for Nazi Past.] ''St. Petersburg Times.'' 15 December 1965.</ref> However the ban was lifted once a Jewish family publicly thanked him for hiding two German Jews from the Gestapo during World War II. * 1973: ''Hitler: The Last Ten Days'' was banned in a unanimous decision by the censorship board that Alec Guinness's Hitler was represented in too human a light.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=w4ktAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WJoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4571,2864443&dq=israel+bans+film&hl=en Israel Bans Hitler Film.] ''Reading Eagle.'' 25 July 1973.</ref> * 1988: Martin Scorsese's ''The Last Temptation of Christ'' was banned on the grounds that it could hurt the feelings of Christian believers in the Holy Land.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VHEfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YGYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1756,2456153&dq=israel+bans+film&hl=en Israel Bans 'Last Temptation'] ''The Lewiston Journal.'' 19 October 1988.</ref> The Supreme Court of Israel later overturned the decision.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-06-15-mn-2691-story.html |title=Israel Lifts 'Last Temptation' Ban |date=June 15, 1989 |access-date=September 12, 2012 |work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> * 2002: ''Jenin, Jenin'' was banned by the Israeli Film Ratings Board on the premise that it was libelous and might offend the public. The Supreme Court of Israel later overturned the decision.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3262325.stm Israel court lifts Jenin film ban], BBC News, 11 November 2003.</ref> The Lod District court reinstated the ban in 2021 after determining that the film defamed Israeli army reserve officer Nissim Magnagi after 5 years of legal proceedings. <ref>[https://www.ynetnews.com/article/Sk4aj4cCv "Court bans screening of the documentary 'Jenin Jenin' in Israel"], ynetnews.com, January 11, 2021</ref><ref name=times>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/jenin-jenin-screenings-banned-in-israel-as-court-orders-damages-for-soldier/|title = 'Jenin, Jenin' screenings banned in Israel as court orders damages for soldier|website = The Times of Israel}}</ref>

== Laws == * Law for Prevention of Damage to State of Israel through Boycott * Nakba Law

== References == {{reflist|2}}

Category:Censorship in Israel Category:Law of Israel Israel