A satellite channel for Palestine

A Palestinian official announced that the Palestinian government has approved a project to create a Palestinian satellite channel, which expected to begin broadcasting at the beginning of the coming year on the Egyptian satellite, Nile Sat, that was launched in April.

The official said that the Palestinian leadership has authorized Hesham Meki, the general coordinator of the Palestinian radio and television organization, to proceed with this project, communicate with officials in the Egyptian company to complete arrangements and specify a site on the Egyptian satellite.

Meki said that the temporary headquarters for the satellite channel will be located in Gaza, adding that the number of broadcast hours had not been specified yet. Meki said the launching of the Palestinian channel is another sign of the state's sovereignty.

Palestinian television began broadcasting from the Gaza Strip immediately after the government took power under the Oslo accords in 1994.