In response to a proposed US Congressional resolution to label the Hamas-affiliated Al-Aqsa TV a terrorist entity, the head of the channel's administrative council said on Thursday that the resolution goes against international regulations and conditions for media freedom, insisting that the channel plays an important role in informing the Arab/Islamic Ummah on the Palestinian issue.
He also claims the resolution only serves the interests of Israel and the Fatah-run Palestinian Authority (PA), who he accuses of arresting journalists affiliated with the channel and shutting down its offices in the West Bank. According to Reporters Without Borders, a journalist and cameraman affiliated with the station were arrested by the PA in November of 2007.
Some have compared Al-Aqsa TV to Hezbollah's Al-Manar satellite television network, which was also labeled a terrorist entity, and was subsequently banned from being broadcasted in the US and parts of Europe back in 2006. Although known for being controversial, Al-Aqsa's programming and capabilities are somewhat rudimentary when compared to its Hezbollah ‘counterpart’. I’m pretty sure Al-Manar is the second most popular satellite channel in the Occupied Territories (after Al-Jazeera), so perhaps the two may eventually become competitors for Palestinian viewers.
The issue of securatizing media outlets by labeling them terrorist entities brings up an interesting debate. Is it an effective way of countering violence/terrorism? Or does it represent a naive attempt by policymakers to address ‘root causes’ of terrorism within a politicized context?
