West Bank radio station's arbitrary closure by Israeli soldiers
| Publisher | Reporters Without Borders |
| Publication Date | 26 August 2009 |
| Cite as | Reporters Without Borders, West Bank radio station's arbitrary closure by Israeli soldiers, 26 August 2009, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4a969783c.html [accessed 5 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Reporters Without Borders condemns the arbitrary closure of Radio Bethlehem 2000, a radio station located near the West Bank city of Bethlehem. The station was shut down yesterday evening by Israeli soldiers, who seized its equipment.
"The summary closure of an independent Palestinian radio station and the arbitrary seizure of its equipment constitute outright censorship," Reporters Without Borders said. "The station's management was given no explanation. We urge the Israeli military authorities to return the confiscated equipment and let the station resume broadcasting without delay."
The Israeli soldiers arrived at the station, based in Beit Jala, near Bethlehem, at about 6 p.m. yesterday in five jeeps. After ordering a technician to stop work, they removed the station's equipment without showing any warrant. One of the soldiers simply said: "We don't want to hear Radio Bethlehem 2000 anymore."
Station manager George Canawati told Reporters Without Borders: "We have not been told why the station was closed although we tried to obtain any explanation from the Israeli military."
An independent radio station founded in 1996, Radio Bethlehem 2000 is now closed until further notice. "This measure is all the more surprising as the station had no political programmes on sensitive subjects and limited itself to broadcasting music," Reporters Without Borders added.
