Israel authorities punishes Haaretz newspaper for what it called… spreading defeatist propaganda!

Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi submitted a proposal to the government to punish the Haaretz newspaper and stop subscriptions to it on the grounds of “spreading defeatist and false propaganda and incitement against the State of Israel”.

The office of the Israeli Minister of Communications, Shlomo Karhi, said in a statement that he “submitted a proposal to the government to stop publishing government advertisements in the newspaper and to stop subscriptions to it”.

Karhi justified the decision by what he called “the continuous publication of defeatist and false propaganda and incitement against the State of Israel during the war, in Haaretz newspaper”.

He explained that he presented to the government a proposal to take a decision to stop funding the Haaretz newspaper foundation, and to stop advertising and subscription fees for all state users, including the Israeli army, the police, the Shin Bet General Security Service, the ministries, and any government company.

He also added that stopping the purchase of Haaretz newspaper services by government agencies will reduce the severe harm that Israeli citizens feel not only from publications in the newspaper, but also from the fact that they are forced to pay for it with tax money.

Haaretz newspaper was accused of spreading propaganda, presenting lies, and using anti-Zionist and anti-Israel terminology.

Haaretz ”News of the Land of Israel” is a Hebrew newspaper, founded in 1918, making it the longest running newspaper currently in print in Israel.

It’s published in both Hebrew and English in the Berliner format.

The English edition is published and sold together with The New York Times International Edition.

Its Hebrew and English editions are available on the internet.

Haaretz is known for its left-wing and liberal stances on domestic and foreign issues.

As of 2022, Haaretz has the third-largest circulation in Israel, and it’s widely read by international observers, especially in its English edition, and discussed in the international press.

According to the Center for Research Libraries, among Israel’s daily newspapers, Haaretz is considered the most influential and respected for both its news coverage and its commentary.