PA shuts down Al-Jazeera's West Bank offices
Published today (updated) 15/07/2009 16:43
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Al-Jazeera is the news network of choice for Palestinians

Bethlehem - Ma'an - The Palestinian Authority (PA) decided on Wednesday to
sue the popular Qatar-based satellite channel Al-Jazeera station and shut
down its operation in the West Bank, accusing them of "incitement and false
information."

The Palestinian Information Ministry said in a statement, "Al-Jazeera has
always dedicated a wide portion of its broadcasts to incitement against the
Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority. Despite
repeated requests to be impartial in its coverage of Palestinian affairs,
the station continued to incite against the PLO and the PA. The latest false
news was aired yesterday."

At the same time, the PA stated a commitment to freedom of the press in
Palestine. "We expect all media outlets operating in Palestine to go about
their work in a way that does not contradict the Palestinian national
interest and rule of law," the statement read.

For its part, Al-Jazeera expressed astonishment at the PA decision.

Responding to the decision, the Palestinian Media Forum (PMF) called on
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to reverse the decision describing it as
restricting freedom of press.

"The Palestinian information ministry should honor Al-Jazeera teams for
their efforts in exposing Israeli crimes in the Palestinian territories
rather than shutting down its offices just as Israel did before," a
statement by the PMF said.

The statement pointed out that Al-Jazeera was the only station to expose
"the false democracy which some Arab countries claim."

The closure of Al-Jazeera offices, the PMF asserted, was a political
decision which has nothing to do with the professional performance of
Al-Jazeera teams.

There is speculation that the suit is related to comments aired by the
station on Tuesday by senior Fatah member Farouq Qaddoumi, who accused
President Abbas of involvement in an alleged plot to kill Yasser Arafat.