An Israeli Cabinet minister signed an order today barring a Palestinian TV channel geared toward Israel's Arab citizens from operating inside the Jewish state for the next six months.
In the order, Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan says F48 -- or Palestine 48 -- television didn't have proper authorisation to operate in Israel.
The channel, which is funded by the Palestinian Authority, began broadcasting from the predominantly Arab Israeli city of Nazareth last month.
Erdan said he won't allow "Israel's sovereignty to be harmed" or for the Palestinian Authority to gain a "foothold" in the country. He said the channel will be prevented from operating "anywhere within the state of Israel" for six months.
Riad al-Hassan, the head of the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation, called the decision "illegal." He said it would affect Israeli production companies who produce two programs for the channel in Nazareth. He said those companies would challenge the decision in Israel's Supreme Court.
The satellite channel produces the remainder of its programs in Ramallah, in the West Bank, and will continue broadcasting its other shows from there.
