AJC Welcomes Removal of Hamas TV Station from European Airwaves

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Jun 25, 2010, 05:34 ET

NEW YORK, June 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AJC welcomed the decision of European satellite firm Eutelsat to shut off broadcasts to Europe by the Hamas-run station, Al Aqsa Television.

The decision follows a French government order to Eutelsat earlier this month to take Al Aqsa off the air, after a complaint a complaint from the European Commission that the station violated rules on incitement.

"Al Aqsa TV is a mouthpiece for hatred and incitement against Israel and Jews," said AJC Executive Director David Harris. "The decision to cut off its European broadcasts is a vote for the principle of peaceful coexistence and a blow to the incendiary Hamas regime in Gaza. Hamas tried to use western freedoms to undermine those very freedoms."

Al Aqsa TV broadcasts music videos and cartoons glorifying the killing of Jews as well as a children's show with a Mickey Mouse-like character who encourages terrorism against Israel.

The removal of Al Aqsa TV from the airwaves is another demonstration of the resolve of Western governments against terrorist propaganda outlets. Al Manar TV, the broadcast arm of the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah, has been banned in France, Spain, Germany and the United States, among other countries.

SOURCE American Jewish Committee