Israel raids and shuts down Palestinian radio station

The Israeli military raided a Palestinian radio station in the West Bank on Tuesday and confiscated equipment it said was being used to broadcast calls to attack Israelis.

The military shut down the Al Hurria radio station in Hebron overnight and accused it of inciting violence in the volatile West Bank city.

This is a clear violent aggression on the Palestinian media. We didn't incite, we just reported the Israeli daily crimes against our people in Hebron. They want to silence our voice - Al Hurria station manager

The station's director, Ayman Qawasmeh, said Israel troops raided the station after 2 a.m. destroyed equipment and confiscated transmitters.

"This is a clear violent aggression on the Palestinian media," he said. "We didn't incite, we just reported the Israeli daily crimes against our people in Hebron. They want to silence our voice."

The Union of Palestinian Journalists said the station was informed it would be closed until April, calling the decision an "awful and heinous crime which reflects the (Israelis') barbaric, criminal, terrorist mentality towards Palestinian media.

Israel says the current spate of violence that started in mid-September has been set off by a Palestinian campaign of lies and incitement surrounding a sensitive Jerusalem holy site.

The Palestinians counter it is a result of frustration from nearly a half-century of occupation.

At least 69 Palestinians have been killed so far by Israeli fire.The wave of violence shows no signs of abating.