Israel to boycott Al-Jazeera TV

Israel to boycott Al-Jazeera TV over alleged incitement to terror
By Haaretz Service

Israel will impose an official embargo of Al-Jazeera television in the coming days, over what it has called the Qatar-based station's unfair portrayal of the Israel Defense Forces' operation in the Gaza Strip.

"The Foreign Ministry has held discussions on the matter, and decided to embargo the station," Deputy Foreign Minister Majali Wahabe told Army Radio, adding: "These reports are untrustworthy and they hurt us, and they arouse people to terrorist activities."

The Foreign Ministry plans send an official letter to Qatar requesting it investigate the matter, according to the radio. Israeli officials have until now desisted to meet with station representatives and its senior reporters have not been permitted to enter government offices in Jerusalem.

Israel claims that the television station has incited the Palestinian public with its reports and cooperated with Hamas over the latest period of military escalation in the Gaza Strip, the radio said.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement has also spoken out against the station. One of its leaders, Mohammed Dahlan, has of late organized a law suit against it for its alleged support for Hamas. (Haaretz)