Netanyahu seeks to use 'Al Jazeera' law to shut down broadcaster

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to shut down local operations of a Qatar-based news channel after Israel's parliament approved what is known as the "Al-Jazeera law" which allows broadcasters from abroad to be shut down if they are deemed to pose a risk to state security.

Israeli lawmakers voted in favor of the legislation on Monday in the second and third readings.

Under the law, Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi can order the closure of a television broadcaster, the confiscation of broadcasting equipment, the removal of the broadcaster from cable and satellite television providers.