The Palestinian Interior Ministry on December 4 shut down the office of a private satellite channel in apparent dispute with a top Fatah official. The ministry said it decided to close the Al-Ghad satellite channel. The ministry said it ordered the channel’s employees to immediately leave the office, without elaborating the reasons behind the decision. The channel said it gave its 35 employees a paid vacation until it settles the issue with the Palestinian Authority (PA). Palestinian sources said that the channel was closed due to licensing procedure. Other sources said the ministry closed the channel due to rising tension between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the member of Fatah’s Central Committee Mohammed Dahlan. Dahlan, also head of Fatah Media Commission, is one of the owners of the station in addition to Palestinian and Arab businessmen. Media reports in the last weeks said that tension between Abbas and Dahlan rose after the latter had openly criticised the Palestinian president and his family’s business dealings.
PA SHUTS DOWN SATELLITE CHANNEL
The Palestinian Interior Ministry on December 4 shut down the office of a private satellite channel in apparent dispute with a top Fatah official.
