Fatah has banned Al Jazeera from reporting from Jenin Governorate.
Al Jazeera Media Network has condemned a “smear campaign” by Fatah in the occupied West Bank against Al Jazeera and its journalists, particularly correspondent Mohamad Atrash.
The network in a opinion said the “regrettable” campaign was launched because it addressed clashes between the Palestinian National Security Forces and Palestinian resistance fighters in Jenin.
This came after the Palestinian National Liberation Movement Fatah, which controls the Palestinian Authority, announced a ban on Al Jazeera’s operations in Jenin Governorate Reporting on ongoing raids by PA security forces about Palestinian fighters in Jenin.
“The network was and is a platform for opinion and dissent and is professional in its credible and impartial reporting.” “Al Jazeera has successfully maintained its professionalism throughout its coverage of the events in Jenin,” said a statement from the transmitter.
“The voices of both the Palestinian resistance and the spokesman for the Palestinian National Security Forces have always been present on Al Jazeera’s screens,” the statement continued.
Al Jazeera further noted that such a campaign could put its correspondents in danger.
“The network holds Fatah, the Palestinian national security forces and relevant Palestinian Authority institutions responsible for any harm that may befall Mohamad Atrash or any of the Al Jazeera journalists in the occupied West Bank.”
Fatah claimed Al Jazeera was playing a “dangerous role” with its coverage of the clashes, which had led to “discord” and infighting between Palestinian factions, according to a statement released on Monday by the Jordan-based news agency Roya News.
The group also called on Palestinians throughout the occupied territory to refrain from doing any business with the network.
