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Police Raid on Radio Station Sparks Outcry and Protests

August 1, 1995
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Israeli police have raided a right-wing pirate radio station, seizing equipment and bringing its manager in for questioning.

The move, which came as Israeli troops clashed with Israeli settlers in the West Bank, sparked stormy protests and charges of undemocratic behavior.

The station, known as Channel 7, broadcast from a ship off the coast of Israel.

The ship had docked off the port of Ashdod for repairs, when police boarded it Monday with a court order.

Police charged that the station had no license or other authorization to transmit it signal.

In the Knesset, news of the incident set off protests from opposition members.

Knesset members Shaul Yahalom of the National Religious Party and the Likud’s Yehoshua Matza were ejected from the Knesset floor for causing disturbances.

Eliezer Sandberg of the right-wing Tsomet Party said the police raid exemplified the government’s intent to silence voices of the opposition.

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