AL-MANAR’S LICENSE TO BROADCAST CAUSES UPROAR

"If there is any meaning in the Cross-department Commission to fight against anti-Semitism, it should convene at once."

"We would like to know the position of the President of the Republic on the issue created by the CSA."

In a letter to CSA's Chairman Dominique Baudis, Roger Cukierman wrote, "CSA's decision to license Hezbollah's television Al-Manar brought your institution into disrepute."

"There are so many inconsistencies in this decision that they can only be explained, so it seems, by the submission of the CSA to pressures from countries sponsoring the Hezbollah: Lebanon, its host-country; Syria, the occupying power; and Iran, who bankrolls and arms the Hezbollah."

"It is inconsistent to ask in July 2004 for the banning of Al-Manar by the Conseil d'Etat (the French Supreme Court) and to license it in November 2004."

"It is inconsistent to deny in 2004 the request of the Kurdish television channel Media TV because of possible breach of public order when the Kurdish risk in France seems rather marginal when compared to Hezbollah's potential terrorist risk."

"It is inconsistent not to respect your mission. Your mission is to make decision taking stock of the past and not by taking into account only promises about the future."

"Imagine a pornographic or criminal organization asking for your license. Would you deliver it if such an organization would pledge to stop its past activities?"

"It is inconsistent to oppose the policy of struggle against anti-Semitism of the public authorities by allowing a TV channel to reach millions of French family homes with films reminding of false accusations of blood libel with images "visually unbearable, heart sickening and defying common sense," in the French Prime Minister's own words."

"It is inconsistent to license Al-Manar basing your decision on considerations that would justify an opposite conclusion: "a musical video on October 10 stages children for political propaganda ends, in contradiction with article 2-4 of the agreement"."

"For all these reasons, we formally ask you, on the face of your own considerations, to refer the matter to the State Prosecutor, to revise your license or to refer the matter to the Conseil d'Etat (the French Supreme Court) so that it cancels your license."

"Obviously, we will broadly publish the present letter with the hope that the pressure of the French public opinion will overcome, that ethics will prevail over would-be raison d'etat, and that the CSA will recognize its mistake," Cukierman wrote.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) called on France to reconsider its decision to allow the satellite network of a terrorist organization to continue broadcasting in France, despite the recommendation of the Interior Ministry that its transmission be terminated because of its regular anti-Semitic content.

The decision by the French Broadcasting Authority to allow Al-Manar, the satellite network of the Hezbollah terrorist organization, to continue to broadcast in France, "undermines the significant progress that the Government of France has made in the last year to combat the anti-Jewish and incendiary anti-Israel environment that exists in some sectors of French society," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, in a letter to French President Jacques Chirac. "Indeed, your Government had come to understand that attacks on Jews and Jewish institutions do not occur in a vacuum, that hateful propaganda coming from the Middle East is a major catalyst.

Noting that "anti-Semitism continues to be a serious problem in France," and that the "government has taken a number of steps to quell these anti-Jewish acts," Mr. Foxman said that by "allowing Al-Manar to preach its message of hate through television sets across France sends a very contrary message." He urged President Chirac to have "your government to reconsider this decision."

ADL supports CRIF, the representative body of French Jewry, in calling for the termination of Al-Manar's license because of its incendiary anti-Semitic and anti-Israel programming on a daily basis. It glorifies terrorism against Westerners, and calls for the recruitment of Palestinian "martyrs" to kill Jews. Al-Manar's messages of hate and violence are also often accompanied by explicit anti-Semitic themes, such as the dramatization of the medieval blood libel in last year's miniseries, "Ash Shatat." Al-Manar is also a conduit to channel money to Hezbollah, and it openly and actively solicits funds on the air and on its Web site, stated ADL.

CRIF started a petition letter on its website, signed until now by over 10,000 people. The petition reads:

"The undersigned express their outrage at the decision taken Friday 10 November 2004 by the Conseil Superieur de l'Audiovisuel, CSA, the French Broadcasting Authority to license Al-Manar, the television station of the Hezbollah. This license enables the satellite TV Al-Manar to broadcast all over Europe.


This TV station distinguished itself by broadcasting racist or violently anti-Semitic programs, notably reviving the Middle-Ages fantasy of blood libel.

The undersigned ask the Public authorities not to allow any more Al-Manar to broadcast over the French territory."

According to Mohammed Haidar, Director General of Al-Manar, interviewed by the French daily Le Figaro, the TV channel "is ready to respect and to abide by French law. (…) However, this should not mean a substantial change in our programs." Haidar called the broadcast of the infamous anti-Semitic series Ash Shatat "a regrettable mistake and pressure groups took advantage of it. Our aim, in France or wherever we are broadcasting, is to make our voice heard by the Arab speaking audience to create a public opinion in favor of the Palestinian cause. It is not in our interest to transfer the Israel-Palestine conflict outside of its geographical zone. Such a transfer could put at stake the security of European countries and reverse the public opinions against us," reportedly said Mohammed Haidar.

At the French National Assembly, Representative Rudy Salles questioned the French Prime Minister on the license given to Al-Manar. "This issue can challenge public peace in our country, oppose the values of our Republic and jeopardize your policy against anti-Semitism. CSA has just signed a license enabling Al-Manar, the television of the Lebanese Hezbollah, to broadcast over France and Europe. I personally saw the anti-Semitic programs broadcasted by this channel. Your predecessor termed the Hezbollah "a terrorist group". This channel would broadcast in Arabic and also in French. Imagine the impact on our cities and our suburbs of messages of hatred and violence against Jews. This decision is raising the question of a possible control of CSA over the programs. This decision may endanger the public peace. In the name of our Republican values and of our solemn commitment to fight

without mercy against anti-Semitism, what measures will you take to cancel this license?"

Answering for the Prime Minister, Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres, minister of Culture and Communication said, "This issue is worries all the republican parties who are - and rightly so – concerned with the pouring out over the radio and the television of racist talk inciting racial hatred, anti-Semitism and xenophobia. The law you voted 9 July 2004 includes extremely tough measures enabling CSA to control extra-European satellite TV channels – which is the case of Al-Manar. According to law, CSA must grant freedom of expression by licensing all broadcasting entities. But the new law enables a draconian control, hour after hour, of their content. At any time, at the first word inciting racial hatred, at the first anti-Semitic expression, CSA may ask the termination of a channel broadcast. ("This is not true", shouted several Socialist representatives) Regarding this channel or any other channel who would broadcast anti-Semitic speech or incitement to racial hatred, CSA intends to act with the utmost severity. Be proud of the law you have voted because it implemented new efficient control powers. The government and the CSA alike attach to it the greatest attention."

Rudy Salles is the representative of the Nice area and is President of the France-Israel Friendship Group at the National Assembly.