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Mustafa Barghouthi
Photo: AFP

Communication Ministry raids Ramallah TV station

Ministry officials escorted by IDF force raid Ramallah's al-Watan TV, say it uses unauthorized frequencies thus endangering flight routes

Communication Ministry officials raided the al-Watan TV station in Ramallah Wednesday.

 

The raid was headed by officers at the ministry's Wireless Supervision Unit. Palestinian sources said that an IDF force accompanied them.

 

The IDF said that the raid was prompted by the station's use of unauthorized frequencies, which endanger flight routes over Ben Gurion International Airport.

 

One of the station's broadcasters said that the soldiers seized transmission equipment, computers and documents, and detained four of the station's employees.

 

Palestinian sources told Ynet that it is unclear who owns al-Watan, which operates both a TV station and a news website.

 

It is believed that the owners are associates of Mustafa Barghouthi, secretary-general of the National Palestinian Initiative Party, who is considered one of Israel's strongest critics in the PA.

 

Barghouthi denounced the raid, calling it "Israeli piracy." He said that it violated the Oslo Accords, which prevent Israeli security forces from entering Area A.

 

Yoav Zitun contributed to this report

 

 

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פרסום ראשון: 02.29.12, 10:31
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