RAMALLAH, April 19 (Xinhua) -- The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) on Thursday slammed Israel's decision to close a youth media organization in Jerusalem as an attempt to silence all Palestinians.
"Israel, the occupying power, has become aware that documenting its violations and practices in breach of international law by audio visual means has become a threat to its fake claim that it is a democratic state," Saeb Erekat, secretary general of the PLO Executive Committee, said in a press statement.
Erekat was responding to Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman's decision to close the "Elia for Media" organization for being a "terrorist group association."
The organization "appears to be a social organization for youth but, practically, it recruits terrorist activists and equips them to prepare inciting videos and support terrorist actions," Lieberman said in a tweet.
Erekat urged international groups, including legal and media establishments, to intervene to hold Israel accountable for its actions and provide immediate international protection for journalists and media organizations in Palestine.
Ahmad Safadi, director of "Elia for Media," denied the Israeli claims, arguing that the organization solely works to develop youth capacity in the media sector.
Safadi accused Israel of attempting to silence Palestinians and cover the truth, adding that shutting down his organization is part of the Israeli attack against all Palestinian organizations working in Jerusalem.
