Nablus, 21 May: Mr Adnan Asfur, political leader and Hamas spokesman in the West Bank, denounced today what has been committed against the office of Al-Jazeera satellite Channel Television in the West Bank city of Ramallah; namely setting its cars on fire.

In statements to the press, of which Wafa received a copy, Asfur considered the attack on Al-Jazeera office as an attempt to silence the truth spoken by the free media, explaining that media outlets that go for freedom of expression and convey the truth to the public should be respected and honoured not threatened and attacked.

Asfur hoped that the attack was accidental and not planned by parties that run after personal gains, pointing out that if the attack was deliberate, the freedom of speech and media in Palestine are entering a dangerous stage.

While calling on all legal sides to investigate the reasons behind this incident, Asfur called on the journalists association to activate its role in protecting and defending journalists, which is a duty that should be performed regardless of any factional interests.

Source: Palestinian news agency Wafa website, Gaza, in Arabic 1315 gmt 21 May 06

BBC Mon ME1 MEPol mst

top