The Hezbollah-backed Lebanese TV station 'Al-Manar', twice banned in Australia for supporting terrorism, has been given permission to broadcast into the country, following an investigation by the Australian Communication and Media Authority (which found that it did not breach the anti-terrorism laws. 'Al-Manar' programs endorse suicide bombers, call for Israel's annihilation, and refer to Jews as the offspring of pigs and apes.
The watchdog now said it had monitored Al-Manar transmissions from 28 August to 5 September 2008. While it found references to Hezbollah, it did not find attempts to recruit people or solicit funds. The authority said it would investigate any further complaints should they arise.
Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Robert Goot said the decision did not address Jewish concerns and he would take it up with Communications Minister Stephen Conroy. Goot, who is also vice-president of the World Jewish Congress, said 'Al-Manar' was "viciously anti-Semitic and interlaced anti-Israel and anti-US rhetoric with medieval anti-Semitic stereotypes, including the infamous blood libel."