The following press release was issued by the Al Jazeera press office on 15 July:
Al Jazeera is astonished to learn of the Palestinian Authority’s decision to suspend the networks operations in the West Bank and the PAs intention to take legal action against Al Jazeeras Arabic channel. The Palestinian Authority has stated its decisions are in response to Aljazeera reporting the accusations made by Secretary-general of the Fatah movement Mr. Farouk Kaddoumi against the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas and his advisor Mohammed Dahlan. Mr. Kaddoumi accused both leaders of being aware of an Israeli plan to kill the late president Yasser Arafat.
Al Jazeera believes that it has maintained strict professional journalistic standards and acted in accordance with its Code of Ethics in its coverage, and that the Palestinian Authority’s reaction reflects a repression of the freedom of media and a refusal to tolerate the opinions of others. Al Jazeera is surprised that it has been targeted by this decision while many other Arab and international media organizations also broadcast the Kaddoumis allegations. None of them have been reproached. Al Jazeera declares its ongoing commitment to covering events related to Palestine with the highest degree of professionalism and responsibility.