STRASBOURG, March 16, 2012 (WAFA) – The European Parliament (EP) Thursday expressed deep concern about Israeli army raids on two Palestinian television stations in Ramallah late last month and called on Israel to return equipment it seized at the two stations, according to an EP resolution.
It also said that Israeli raids on Palestinian-controlled areas are a breach of the Oslo accords singed in 1993.
An Israeli army unit raided Wattan TV and Al Quds Educational Television, a subsidiary of Al-Quds University, on February 29 at the request of the Israeli Ministry of Communications and seized transmitters and other broadcast equipment and files claiming the frequencies the stations used interfere with airport communication, a claim strongly denied by the stations and the Palestinian Authority, which has licensed them.
The EP resolution called on Israel to fully respect its agreements with the Palestinian Authority, and called on the European Union High Representative to place this issue on the agenda of the EU-Israel Association Council.
The EP “Calls on the Israeli authorities to fully respect the provisions of the existing agreements between Israel and the Palestinian Authority when dealing with Palestinian media,” said the resolution.
While the resolution has welcomed “Palestine’s institution-building efforts; [it noted] that raids by Israeli forces affecting Palestinian cities where the Palestinian Authority, under the Oslo Accords, has assumed powers and responsibilities over internal security and public order constitute a breach of those accords.”
The EP called “on the (EU) Vice President/High Representative, the (European) Council, and the (European) Commission to place this issue, which concerns the basic rights of public access to information, press freedom and freedom of expression, on the agenda of the EU-Israel Association Council.”
The EP members supported efforts of the Palestinian Authority to restore equipment and urged the Israeli authorities to immediately return the confiscated equipment.
M.S.
