Al-Manar TV Director Abdullah Kassir asserts the German government acted on a request from what he called "Zionist lobbies" in Europe in deciding to ban broadcasts of the Arabic language network.
Hezbollah has been fighting Israel since the early 1980s and is a powerful political force in Lebanon.
Germany banned Hezbollah's television station Friday on grounds that it violates the country's constitution.
The ban prevents German satellite television companies from offering the channel.
The station said Saturday it violated no laws and vowed the ban would not stop it from doing its job.
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This isn't a smart move on Germany's part. Denying the flow of ideas is never a good practice.
We do not get Hezbollah TV here either (not that I really care to either - my Arabic is not that great - so a lot of what they would say would go into the ether anyway.) but being able to hear what others are saying can help bridge gaps in understanding between one another.
There is always the risk of hearing something you don't particularly like or care for and up to something outright repugnant to you when you listen to another. But not listening has not gotten anyone anywhere at anytime ... wars are fought over just such as not listening.
I am sure that my readers in that part of the world (Arabia, et. al.) may raise an eyebrow about what is said here but at least they can raise that eyebrow because they are able to read this blog. The Germans who read this blog may raise one too but they will not be able to raise an eyebrow at anything said on Hezbollah TV because they aren't allowed to hear it.
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