The Israeli government is moving to impose sanctions on the Hebrew newspaper "Haaretz" due to its coverage of the war and "publishing defeatist and false propaganda and incitement against the state during the Israeli war on Gaza." Shlomo Karhi, Israel's Minister of Communications, stated in a release obtained by Anadolu Agency that he has proposed to the government to stop publishing government advertisements in the newspaper and halt subscriptions.
Karhi justified the decision by referring to what he termed "the continuous publication of defeatist and false propaganda and incitement against the State of Israel during the war in Haaretz." He added that he has proposed to the government a decision to stop funding the Haaretz newspaper, including halting advertisements and subscription fees for all state users, including the Israeli army, police, the internal security service Shabak, ministries, and any governmental company.
He claimed that the newspaper "adopts an aggressive line that undermines the goals of the war and weakens our military effort and social resilience." He also expressed that "stopping the purchase of services from Haaretz by government bodies will reduce the severe harm felt by Israeli citizens not only from the publications in the newspaper but also from the fact that they are forced to pay for it with tax money."
According to the same statement, the Israeli minister considered the newspaper to be "a mouthpiece for Israel's enemies." He accused the newspaper of "propaganda in service of the enemy and offering narratives from our adversaries, along with presenting lies and using anti-Zionist and anti-Israel terminologies while justifying the enemy."
The newspaper has not commented on Karhi's accusations, and it remains unclear whether the Israeli government will accept this request. Unlike other Israeli newspapers and media, "Haaretz" criticizes the practices of the Israeli army and generally adopts a stance opposing Israeli occupation and supporting peace with the Palestinians. A few days ago, the newspaper published a report citing the Israeli police that an Israeli helicopter fired at Palestinians and Israelis in the town of Re'im near Gaza on October 7, which angered the police.
