ADL Voices Ongoing Concerns About Al Jazeera Following Pan-Arab Network’s Acquisition of Current TV

NEW YORK, Jan. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has ongoing concerns about the pan-Arab satellite network Al Jazeera, which it says has “a troubling record” of providing a platform to all manner of virulent anti-Israel and even anti-Semitic extremists and of serving as a propaganda tool against the State of Israel, particularly in its Arabic-language broadcasts.

While it is true that Al Jazeera has toned down its anti-Israel propaganda in the network’s English broadcasts, ADL said the Arabic-language channel’s content “continues to be of great concern.” The League voiced those concerns following the Qatar-based network’s acquisition of Current TV in a deal which will provide unprecedented access for the network’s English-language programming to a potential audience of millions of viewers in the United States.

Al Jazeera, whose major broadcast focus is in the Arab world, has a troubling record and history that is very disturbing, particularly in its Arabic language broadcasts. It has exploited and exaggerated the Arab-Israel conflict in a heavy-handed and propagandistic manner, and always at the expense of Israel, while giving all manner of virulent anti-Israel and even anti-Semitic extremists access to its airwaves.

- Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director

However, in its English version lately Al Jazeera has toned down its anti-Israel propaganda. Yet it continues to be of great concern. We will be watching and monitoring the broadcasts as they become available to a much wider audience in the United States.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world’s leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.