The New Iranian Hizbullah TV Station 'Kheibar': To Be

MEMRI:

Special Dispatch – Iran/Jihad & Terrorism Studies Project

October 12, 2005

On October 10, the Iranian Student News Agency, ISNA, reported that Iran's Hizbullah is planning to operate a new satellite TV channel, named Kheibar.(1)

According to ISNA, the Spokesman of Iran's Hizbullah, Mojtaba Bigdeli, said: "We are presently holding talks with satellite TV channels for airing our programs. So far, we have received proposals and members of Hizbullah's Central Council will announce their final decision in the near future."

Bigdeli also said the satellite TV channel Kheibar will become operational "in the next couple of months" and that Kheibar's programs will be "mainly broadcast in North America and Europe… Currently we are procuring the hardware."

The report goes on to say that "Bigdeli said the secretary of Iran's Hizbullah, Ayatollah Mohammad Baqer Kharrazi, has recommended that team launching Kheibar satellite TV should prepare the ground for collaboration among Muslim states, forge Islamic solidarity, eliminate Zionism and create consensus among political, cultural, and social forces."

It should be noted that Kheibar was a rich and fertile oasis north of Al-Madina, inhabited by Jews, and destroyed by Prophet Mohammad in 628. The fate of the Kheibar Jews today is used by Hamas as a symbol to the fight against the Jews and Israel.

(1) ISNA (Iran), October 10, 2005,

http://www.isna.ir/Main/NewsView.aspx?ID=News-595516