Al Jazeera responds to Palestinian Authority after suspension from West Bank operations
In brief:
Qatari-based television channel Al Jazeera has accused the Palestinian Authority (PA) of acting in line with Israeli media censorship policies after it was suspended from its operations in the West Bank.
The PA accused Al Jazeera of incitement and interference in the West Bank, suspending its operations.
What next? It said the suspension would remain in place until Al Jazeera "chooses to act in line with basic media ethics."
Qatari television channel Al Jazeera has reacted to the Palestinian Authority (PA)'s decision to suspend its operations in the West Bank, accusing it of imitating Israeli media censorship policies.
The Qatari channel is accused of biased reporting and "spreading inflammatory content, disseminating false information and interfering in Palestinian internal affairs," according to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA. The suspension of operations affects all Al Jazeera "journalists, employees and affiliated channels" affiliated with the network.
Israel orders Al Jazeera to close local offices
The photo shows an elderly, white-haired man with a serious expression standing in front of a black and white Israeli flag. The move escalates a long-standing conflict between Israel and Al Jazeera, and also threatens to escalate tensions with Qatar, which owns the channel.
It comes amid increased violence in the West Bank, including a crackdown on militant groups in the city of Jenin by Palestinian Authority security forces.
The riots were widely covered by Al Jazeera and broadcast around the world. In a statement, the channel criticized the AP's suspension and compared it to Israel's actions, which have prevented the network from operating and forced the closure of its offices in Jerusalem and the West Bank city of Ramallah.
"This decision follows an ongoing campaign of incitement and intimidation by parties affiliated with the Palestinian Authority against Al Jazeera journalists and correspondents," Al Jazeera said.
"The decision to freeze Al Jazeera's work and prevent its journalists from carrying out their duties is an attempt to hide the truth about events in the occupied territories, in particular what is happening in Jenin and its camps."
Israeli politicians, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have described Al Jazeera as a mouthpiece for Hamas.
The Palestinian Authority says Al Jazeera must respect "basic media ethics."
The PA is controlled by Fatah, a political rival of Hamas.
A spokesman for the Palestinian Authority Prime Minister's Office said the suspension followed a number of complaints about the network to the Palestinian Union of Journalists - but did not elaborate on the specific nature of those complaints. Israeli army raids Al Jazeera offices
The photo shows soldiers entering an office building. Soldiers enter an office building. The news channel denounced the "baseless allegations," saying it would not be intimidated or stop reporting.
"These measures will remain in place until Al Jazeera decides to act in accordance with basic media ethics, including its duty to prevent deliberate disinformation, stop glorifying violence and end incitement to armed rebellion," the spokesperson said.
"The State of Palestine's commitment to press freedom is unconditional and unequivocal.
"However, incitement, sedition and misinformation are not journalism, and glorifying crime and lawlessness is not journalism. ยป
Al Jazeera insisted that the suspension, while outrageous, does not end its reporting. "Al Jazeera emphasizes that this decision will not distract it from its commitment to continue professional coverage of events and developments in the West Bank."
Palestinian security forces under fire for journalist's death
A blue vest with "PRESS" written on it, surrounded by people
Residents surround a press vest in honor of Shatha al-Sabbagh. (Reuters: Raneen Sawafta)
Last weekend, PA security forces were accused of killing a young Palestinian journalist in Jenin.
The family of Shatha al-Sabbagh, 21, said she died of gunshot wounds to the head and accused snipers of shooting her.
The security spokesman denied the allegations, saying "outlaws" operating in the city's refugee camp were responsible for Ms al-Sabbagh's death.
Al Jazeera broadcast an interview with his mother along with the spokesperson - who walked out of the segment after he complained that he had not been informed that he would appear on air with his grieving family . Get a morning briefing in your inbox
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Israel orders Al Jazeera to close its offices in Israel after Netanyahu calls it a "channel of incitement".
Topic: Global politics
The photo shows an elderly man with white hair looking serious as he stands in front of a black and white Israeli flag. An elderly man with white hair looks serious as he stands in front of a blue and white Israeli flag. Al Jazeera describes the raid as "criminal" while Israel accuses the news channel of "supporting terrorist activity."
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