The Ban Al-Jazeera Television in Canada

To Ban Al-Jazeera television from making it onto the Canadian AirWaves.

A recent application by Canadian cable companies to carry the controversial Arabic-language network al-Jazeera is stirring an intense debate on freedom of speech.

"Al-Jazeera is a broadcast facility that will not be consistent with Canadian values, nor will it likely be consistent with hate laws that are in force in this country," Keith Landy, president of the Canadian Jewish Congress, said.

"We have grave concerns that it will promote anti-Semitism. It has a history of Holocaust denial and other views that could be seen as an incitement to violence."

On Wednesday, the Canadian Cable Television Association, which represents Canada's largest cable companies, submitted an application to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to air al-Jazeera and 15 other ethnic networks.

The 24-hour Arabic language news station is perhaps best known in Canada for airing exclusive interviews with Saudi-born terrorist Osama bin Laden. In the past, it has also been the first to air videotapes prepared by the al-Qaeda leader, which have been delivered by al-Qaeda members to some of the network's bureaus in the Middle East.

Al-Jazeera, which is available here illegally through a U.S. satellite channel, has recently come under fire from both U.S. and Iraqi officials for its coverage of the war in Iraq.

Although the network reaches an estimated 35 million viewers in the Arab world, its Western style of reporting has angered many governments in the region. The network is also the first in the Arab world to actively seek out Israeli perspectives on Middle East issues.

As a result, the network has been called "diabolical" for serving "Zionist interests." Its bureaus have been banned from Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, which recently accused it of "serving up poison on a golden platter" and banned it from covering the pilgrimage to the haj in February.

On the other side, the network has repeatedly referred to Palestinian suicide bombers who kill civilians in Israel as "martyrs." During its coverage of the war in Afghanistan, al-Jazeera's correspondents often spoke of "enemy planes" when they referred to U.S. aerial bombing raids.

"My concern is that I have seen coverage on al-Jazeera in which they have broadcast hate speeches by individuals who promote anti-Semitism, without any kind of balance or context," said Mr. Landy.

Mr. Karas agrees. "I don't think mainstream cable in Canada should carry what is essentially an anti-Western voice," he said.