JERUSALEM, Aug 21 – Israel’s foreign ministry has boycotted Arabic satellite network al-Arabiya for taking a senior Israeli official off the air by request of a Lebanese commentator, a ministry spokesman said on Sunday.
The Dubai-based channel halted an Aug. 17 interview with Lior Ben Dor, deputy manager of the ministry’s Arab media department, after Lebanese international law expert Hassan al-Juni protested at appearing alongside a «Zionist official».
The station was to have interviewed the commentator from Lebanon, which has no relations with Israel, and Ben Dor on a split screen. Both officials were asked to speak about Israel’s pullout from Gaza which it aims to conclude this week.
«This is a grave incident,» said Gideon Meir, director-general of the Israeli Foreign Ministry. «A reputable news agency does not treat its guests in this way.» (reuters)