SWC: White House Should Recognize Qatar’s Al Jazeera for what it is: A Source of Incitement and Demonization of the Jewish State

April 1, 2024

The Simon Wiesenthal Center (SWC) is urging the White House to acknowledge that Qatar’s Al Jazeera is not a legitimate news platform, but a source of incitement and demonization.

Earlier, Reuters reported that White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said on Monday if reports are true that Israel is trying to shut down the news network Al Jazeera, it would be "deeply concerning."

 Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revived moves on Monday to shut down Qatari satellite television station Al Jazeera in Israel, saying through his party spokesperson that parliament would be convened in the evening to ratify the necessary law.  Israel has previously accused the station of agitating against it among Arab viewers.

 Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Associate Dean and Director of Global Social Action Agenda for SWC said, “To be clear, this is not about freedom of speech or free press. Al Jazeera recently broadcast for 24 hours a report that alleged that Israeli soldiers raped Palestinian women. This story was only taken down after Hamas itself debunked it. There was no on-air apology, no explanation to the viewers, and no trace of legitimate journalism.   in addition, just a month ago, a supposed Al Jazeera journalist was exposed as a senior leader of Hamas.”

 “The US Administration shouldn’t be defending a major source of propaganda, incitement, and demonization of the Jewish nation. Instead, the US should demand that Qatar order an end to Al Jazeera’s spreading of hatred of Jews and spreading of false news, adding more fuel to an already destabilized region.”  

For further information, please email Michele Alkin, Director of Global Communications at malkin@wiesenthal.com or Erik Simon at esimon@wiesenthal.com, join the Center on Facebook, or follow @simonwiesenthal for news updates sent directly to your Twitter feed. 

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is an international Jewish human rights organization. It holds consultative status at the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the Council of Europe, the OAS, and the Latin American Parliament (PARLATINO).