In yet another demonstration of its tolerance and democratic values, the Palestinian Authority this month banned a number of Arab and Western news agencies from Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas' government compound in Ramallah.
The reason for the ban was unwelcome criticism of the Abbas government and too much coverage of Hamas.
Among the banned agencies was Al Jazeera, by far the largest and most successful Arab television news network.
Palestinian officials were upset when Al Jazeera failed to carry a live broadcast of Abbas addressing the PLO Central Council, and instead broadcast Hamas leader Khaled Mashal addressing a conference in Damascus.
The Foreign Press Association blasted the Palestinian Authority over the new ban, calling it an "unacceptable curtailment of press access."