Israel's government has approved sanctions on the country's oldest newspaper, Haaretz.

It's Communication Minister says that the publication hurts the legitmacy of the State of Israel and its quote “right to defend itself.”

The decision came after Haaretz publisher, Amos Schocken, critiqued Netanyahu's treatment of Palestinian freedom fighters.

Haaretz says the action is an attempt to silence a critical and independent newspaper.

Gideon Levy is a columnist at Haaretz Newspaper and he says that Israel is trying to silence one of the only independent outlets in the country.