OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)-- IOF troops raided on Tuesday evening Radio Bethlehem 2000 in the southern West Bank town of Beit Jala, ordered staff to stop broadcasting, confiscated broadcasting equipment and warned of serious consequences if the station returned to broadcast again.

A statement issued by Radio Bethlehem 2000 said that this assault on the radio station was part of the occupation's fight against freedom of speech and its policy of muzzling free voices which was always met with determination on the part of Palestinian media.

The statement added that such a tyrannical act was not the first of its kind against the radio station as transmission equipment belonging to it was confiscated in al-Khalil a few months ago, adding that these acts only serve to strengthen the resolve of the management and staff of the radio station.

Radio Bethlehem 2000, which has been broadcasting for the past 13 years, have condemned the assault and called on the concerned local and international institutions to voice their rejection of such Israeli occupation policies.