Israeli forces shut down Palestinian radio station over ‘incitement’

Marcy Oster

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israel’s military shut down a Palestinian radio station in the West Bank over its calls to attack Israelis.

The Hebron-based Al Hurria radio station was raided late on Monday night, according to the Israel Defense Forces Spokesman’s Office.

“Forces confiscated broadcasting equipment in order to prevent the incitement which has caused a flare of violence in the region over recent weeks,” the IDF said in a statement issued early Tuesday morning,

There have been 29 attacks in Hebron on soldiers and civilians in the last month, including 22 stabbings, four car ramming attacks and three shooting attacks, according to the IDF.

The radio station was founded in 2002 in Gaza by the ruling Fatah movement, and then transferred to Hebron after Hamas took over Gaza in 2007. It has been shut down twice, in 2002 and in 2008.

“Al Hurria radio station’s agenda encourages stabbing attacks, violent riots and reports false and malicious claims of security forces executing and kidnapping Palestinians in order to provoke violence,” the IDF said. “The station glorifies attacks against Israelis and congratulates the families of attackers who died while executing attacks.”

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