Israel Orders Voice of Palestine Radio Station to Shut Down Israeli Operations
Date
3/21/2023 8:12:41 AM
(MENAFN) Israel's national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has ordered the closure of the Israeli operations of the Voice of Palestine radio station. Israeli Police reportedly visited the station's Jerusalem bureau to notify employees of the closure and summoned several Palestinian reporters for questioning.
The order bars the station from operating within Israel but does not affect its operations in the West Bank or Gaza. Ben-Gvir cited the need to prevent incitement and support for terrorism as the reason for the closure.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called for the immediate reversal of the order and for Israeli authorities to stop harassing members of the press. Palestinian reporters Layali Eid and Lana Kamela, photographers Yazan Haddad and Walid Kamar, and camera operator Firas Handawi were among those summoned for questioning.
Amir Abbas, director of the Marcel production company, which works with the Voice of Palestine's parent company, the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation (PBC), said that the journalists had contributed to various local outlets, including those operated by the PBC. Abbas was also interrogated by the authorities for hours.
The closure of the Voice of Palestine's Israeli operations has raised concerns about press freedom and the targeting of journalists in Israel. The CPJ has called on Israeli authorities to respect the right of journalists to work freely and without fear of retaliation.
The move also highlights the ongoing tensions between Israel and Palestine, with the Israeli government accusing the Palestinian Authority of inciting violence and supporting terrorism. The closure of the Voice of Palestine's Israeli operations is seen by some as a further attempt to silence Palestinian voices and limit the flow of information from the occupied territories.
MENAFN21032023000045012476ID1105828362
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.