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Abbas. Plotted with Sharon?
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Kaddoumi. Accusations
Photo: AFP
PA accuses al-Jazeera of incitement
Ramallah officials infuriated by interview with senior Fatah member, who accuses Abbas of plotting to assassinate Arafat together with Ariel Sharon and Mohammed Dahlan. Network's activity in West Bank suspended
The Palestinian Authority is following in Israel's
footsteps and boycotting
the al-Jazeera news network: The PA on Wednesday ordered the suspension of the al-Jazeera network's activity in the West Bank.
Speaking from Jordan, Kaddoumi also said that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
and Mohammed Dahlan, the former Palestinian security chief in Gaza, were also involved in the plot.
The PA has decided to take legal action against the Qatar-based television network following its coverage of statements made Tuesday by senior Fatah member Farouk Kaddoumi, who accused Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of attempting to assassinate former PA Chairman Yasser Arafat.
Opinion
Mordechai Kedar
Arab network is in fact jihadist channel and must not be allowed to operate in Israel
The Palestinian Information Ministry said in a statement that "the al-Jazeera network has been working for some time to give extensive coverage to incitement against the PLO and Palestinian Authority…
"Despite the network's claims that its coverage of the Palestinian issue is neutral, it continues to incite against the PLO. The last related act took place yesterday, when the network incited to dissention and spread false news."
The Palestinian Information Ministry noted in its statement that "with the intent of protecting the Palestinian interests, the PA has decided to sue the station and freeze its activities in Palestine until the legal system makes a decision on the matter."
The network said in its defense that a series of media outlets in the Arab world had reported on Kaddoumi's remarks on Tuesday.
The network expressed its surprise over the PA decision, saying that it would issue a formal response later in the day.
Meanwhile, the al-Quds al-Arabi daily reported that Kaddoumi's statement had led to an "unprecedented" crisis between the PA and the Jordanian kingdom, as the Palestinian were infuriated by the platform given to the harsh remarks.
According to the report, Abbas is considering sending three of his associates to Amman to discuss Kaddoumi's press conference and perhaps even reconsider the PA's ties with Jordan.
Ali Waked contributed to this report
