Minister of Public Security Gilad Erdan signed an order on Thursday, July 9, shutting down a Palestinian television station, “Palestine 48,” geared to Israel’s Arab citizens which started broadcasting a few days ago.

Logo of Palestinian TV channel “Palestine 48” (Photo: Al Ittihad)

The decision to shut down the television station was not due to questionable content, but rather to issues of “sovereignty,” as the ministry described it. According to the ministry, the channel was working for and under the aegis of the Palestinian Authority within the State of Israel, without its having been given a permit in writing as required by clause 3(a) of the law on implementation of the interim agreement regarding the West Bank and the Gaza Strip (restriction of activity) 1994. According to the order, the station will not be allowed to operate “anywhere within the State of Israel” for six months.

The Joint List has demanded that Minister of Public Security reverse the decision to ban broadcasts by channel “Palestine 48.” In a press release, the Joint List condemned the decision to ban the station, stressing that the Israeli policy of subduing dissenting or alternative voices in media and political institutions threatens the freedom of expressions of Arab-Palestinians in Israel.

The Joint List statement added that the decision also undermines the freedom of art and cultural production by Arab citizens, and the decision of the minister depends on laws that are not applicable to the West Bank, from where the station is broadcasting.

Head of the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation Riad al-Hassan claims this decision is illegal since the program is broadcast from Ramallah and is not subject to Israeli authorities. Al-Hassan told the Wafa Palestinian News Agency that production companies will most likely bring the issue before Israel’s Supreme Court on Sunday in an attempt to reverse the decision.