YouTube boots Palestinian media watchdog

An Israeli media watchdog that reports on Palestinian incitement has seen its YouTube channel terminated for allegedly violating the video-sharing site’s “terms of service.”

The account contained “nearly all” of the group’s published videos, Palestinian Media Watch said in a statement Sunday.

“It is outrageous that YouTube closed PMW’s account, which is a blow to the war on terror,” the group added. “This is particularly dangerous now while Israel is fighting a war against Palestinian terror. PMW documentation on PMW’s YouTube account shows the PA and Fatah leaders’ support and promotion of the terror.”

It is not immediately clear what led to the termination. PMW faces opposition online among pro-Palestinian activists who accuse it of being a pro-Israel advocacy group. YouTube’s terms of service include a prohibition on hate speech.

The termination followed PMW’s Thursday publication of its latest video gleaned from Palestinian media, which shows a young girl on an official Palestinian Authority television program called “Children’s Talk” reciting a poem calling for “war that will smash the oppressor and destroy the Zionist’s soul.”

“PMW’s exposure of Palestinian incitement and hate speech is recognized and used by parliaments and governments around the world,” the group said.

“On Friday, a 25-minute debate took place in Swedish Parliament in which the PA’s support for the current terror was discussed, and the proof was based entirely on PMW documentation – most of which is no longer accessible on PMW’s YouTube account.”

The group, based in Jerusalem, urged YouTube, which is owned by tech giant Google, to “immediately reinstate” its account.