Israel extends Al Jazeera ban by another 45 days

Israel's telecoms regulator has extended its ban on Al Jazeera's operations in Israel by another 45 days, after the cabinet said its broadcasts posed a threat to security.

Last week, an Israeli court upheld an initial 35-day ban on the media network's operations in Israel, imposed by the government on national security grounds, which ended on Saturday.

In a separate ruling on a petition by Al Jazeera against the ban, Israel's Supreme Court described the measure against the broadcaster as "precedent-setting".

According to court documents, Al Jazeera had told the court it did not incite violence or terrorism and that the ban was disproportionate.

"We will not allow the terrorist channel Al Jazeera to broadcast from Israel and endanger our fighters," said Shlomo Karhi, Israel's communications minister. 

"In light of the seriousness of the damage to the security of the state I am convinced that the closure orders will be extended in the future as well."