Israel’s National Security Minister, the far-right Itamar Ben Gvir, this Tuesday ordered the blocking of broadcasts from the Voice of Palestine radio, an official broadcaster linked to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), local authorities reported. press.
According to the Israeli daily Haaretz, Ben Gvir has issued an order barring Palestinian radio from East Jerusalem, the occupied part of the city, from contacting intelligence agencies with headquarters in Ramallah, the PA’s de facto capital, which in practice, means the end of broadcasts from the eastern part of the Holy City and Israel.
This Tuesday morning, Israeli police took to the radio and ordered it closed, after arresting the director of the Palestinian media and several journalists, who were released a few hours later.
“I do not accept activities that incite and support terrorism, either by the Palestinian Authority or by any other entity”said Ben Gvir, in statements also quoted by Haaretz.
The director of the radio company regarded the measure taken by Israel as “a violation of international treaties, freedom of the press and the right of the public” to be informed.
For its part, the Palestinian leadership also condemned the end of broadcasts from the station, one of the main radio stations in the Palestinian territory, where ANP’s top officials usually intervene and make statements.
According to Ramzi Khoury, a member of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the measure is “the continuation of the occupation policy”. [israelita] to fight against the Palestinian press”, especially against the respective media.
The Radio and Television Union of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OCI) countries also opposed Ben Gvir’s decision, as it was “an integral part of Israel’s relentless occupation and aggression” against the Palestinian people.
Israel’s current government, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, has several far-right parties among its coalition partners, seeking to deepen Israeli colonization of the occupied territories and adopt stronger measures against the Palestinians.
Source: DN
