Israel boycotts Al Jazeera over Gaza coverage

0 Comments | AFP, March, 2008

JERUSALEM (AFP) — Israel said on Wednesday it is boycotting Al-Jazeera television in protest at the pan-Arab channel's coverage of events in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip.

"We have discussed this problem and I have decided that we will boycott this channel as its partial coverage is not credible and is damaging to us," Deputy Foreign Minister Majali Wahbe told army radio.

"Al-Jazeera reports only half the story and helps terrorists."

Israeli officials will no longer give interviews to the channel and a letter of protest will be sent to Al-Jazeera management within a matter of days, he said.

A senior foreign ministry official told AFP that Israel's ire was sparked by the Qatar-based station's coverage of the sharp escalation of violence that erupted on...