Media outlets have been reporting about a new crisis between AlJazeera TV and Jordan. The new scandal started after Jordanian authorities confiscated the videotape of an interview in which the former crown prince slammed the United States and Saudi Arabia for pursuing "destructive" Middle East policies.
The row has escalated as the Doha-based television aired a discussion on alleged Jordanian king's remarks suggesting the problem of Palestinian refugees could be resolved through paying "compensations" to refugees by rich Arab states. These comments were first published by an Israeli newspaper and drew sharp reaction from Palestinian groups. Jordanian officials, however, denied the monarch made such remarks.
This is not the first time, that AlJazeera is involved in such a deep crisis with an Arab regime. In Saudi Arabia, alJazeera is banned. The Saudi regime disliked the Qatar-based channel for often giving a voice to the monarchy’s opponents.
AlJazeera was banned in early February 2004 from covering the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. Most recently, the popular pan-Arab news channel was not even permitted to cover the Arab League summit, held last month in Riyadh. Additionally, Saudi Arabia has been preventing Saudi companies from advertising on the Doah-based station. Instead, the Saudis back al-Arabiya, AlJazeera's main competitor.
In the current affair, AlJazeera claims Jordanian security agents confiscated a tape of an interview with Prince Hassan Bin Talal saying it included comments that would harm Jordanian relations with Saudi Arabia.
AlJazeera called the seizure "an offence and insult" to the TV station and to press freedom. Gassan Ben Jeddou, Al Jazeera staff member, and one of the prominent figures in Arab media, said the interview at the Royal Court was not aired live because of the Prince's commitments. In the interview, Prince Hassan said there are reports allegedly claiming that Saudi Security Adviser Prince Bander Bin Sultan supports "jihadist" groups against the Lebanese Shiite movement Hizbullah, the Al Jazeera journalist conveyed.
Additionally, Prince Hassan added some Arab parties are cooperating with the US to attack Iran and Hizbullah besides trying to instigate a regional Sunni-Shiite strife, Ben Jeddou added.
Now it remains to be seen how the current crisis will develop. About five years ago, Jordan shut down the local office of the Qatari TV station. The move came after the airing of a show considered an affront by the kingdom's royal family.
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