GAZA, Jan. 18 (UPI) -- A row erupted between an Arab news channel and the Palestinian Hamas government Thursday following a report the prime minister allegedly "insulted God."
While the Islamic movement and the government led by Hamas' Ismail Haniyeh accused the Dubai-based al-Arabiya TV of fabricating lies against the prime minister, the channel complained Hamas elements are threatening the lives of its staff in Gaza.
Al-Arabiya news managing editor Nabil Khatib told United Press International in a telephone interview from Beirut that his colleagues in Gaza "are not daring to leave their homes" after receiving calls from Hamas and the government that "angry mobs" are making threats against the channel's staff members.
Khatib said that Hamas gunmen have warned if al-Arabiya does not apologize, "they will burn down" its offices.
Al-Arabiya.net, the channel's website, accused Hamas of inciting violence against its network by vowing to file a law suit against al-Arabiya after it aired a news item quoting Haniyeh as having allegedly said in a meeting with his advisers: "We will not accept funds with conditions, even if they come from God almighty."
Hamas said in a statement it has decided to boycott the Saudi-owned channel to protest what it said was an attempt to "disparage" the Palestinian prime minister by misquoting the man in such a manner.
Although the quote was third-hand, al-Arabiya insisted it did not fabricate the item and followed strict professional procedures when it decided to air it in one of its hourly newscasts.
As a prominent Hamas member, Haniyeh is a devout Muslim representing an Islamic party that grabbed about two-thirds of the Palestinian legislative seats in the January 2006 elections.
