Palestinian judiciary orders Al Jazeera websites to be blocked

The Palestinian judiciary yesterday ordered all websites belonging to Al Jazeera Media Network to be blocked, based on a request by the Attorney General.

The decision was based on “investigations by the judicial police, which monitored the network’s continued broadcasting of media discourse that includes incitement, threatening civil peace and harming national unity, which poses a direct threat to societal stability and the public interest. This is a clear violation of the provisions of Palestinian law.”

Following the judicial decision, the Ministry of Telecommunications and Digital Economy issued directives to private radio stations not to re-broadcast or quote any of the websites or satellite channels affiliated with Al Jazeera Media Network.

The decision comes days after the Palestinian Authority ordered the “suspension” of Al Jazeera’s operations in the occupied West Bank. The PA has been carrying out a campaign against Palestinian resistance factions in the West Bank, and the move to ban Al Jazeera is seen as a step towards stopping news of its actions being broadcast.

The Palestinian Authority is accused of targeting resistance fighters in the camp on behalf of the Israeli occupation.

Israel banned Al Jazeera’s operations in May last year.

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