Jewish groups voice Hezbollah TV concerns
JEWISH groups have reacted with disappointment to news that the Australian Communications and Media Authority will allow the Hezbollah TV station, al-Manar, to broadcast into Australia.
AJN STAFF
JEWISH groups have reacted with disappointment to news that the Australian Communications and Media Authority will allow the Hezbollah TV station, al-Manar, to broadcast into Australia.
Australia & Israel Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) executive director Dr Colin Rubenstein said Australia’s anti-terrorism standards had been watered down to the point of being ineffective.
“ACMA’s guidelines appear to make it legal for terrorist organisations to establish television stations broadcasting to Australia, and even solicit recruits and funds, as long as they omit requisite details on joining or providing donations,” he said.
“It is under these guidelines that al-Manar has legally broadcast into Australia content that seeks to incite to violence and hatred, particularly of Jews but also of other people, and to encourage donations to Hezbollah. Raising funds for Hezbollah is illegal under Australian law.”.
According to Dr Rubenstein, the messages broadcast on al-Manar haven’t changed but Australian standards have.
“Al-Manar is banned in France, Germany, Spain and the United States. It should also be banned in Australia.”
Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Robert Goot said the anti-Semitism spouted by al-Manar was more concerning than a potential breach of anti-terror laws.
“We were and remain focused on how their programming can be seen with regard to the Racial Discrimination Act,” he said.
“If the programs to be screened to al-Manar’s subscribers have similar content to those previously shown, then there may well be cause for concern and justifiable action under the act.”
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