Bethlehem – Ma’an – For the first time in its five year history, Ma’an News Agency is pursuing legal channels against a political figure who verbally attacked the agency.

The controversy concerns remarks by Gaza-based Hamas lawmaker Mushir Al-Masri, who sought to discredit a Ma’an news report that Hamas plans eventually to sign on to the Egyptian-backed Palestinian unity initiative. The report stated that Hamas will sign the deal as soon as the head of Hamas’ Political Bureau, Khalid Mash’al, returns from consultations with a foreign country not named by the source.

Al-Masri slammed the report on a Gazan website, saying, “What was posted on Ma’an was just an anecdote … Ma’an is a Fatah mouthpiece whose cheap dealings and publishing of lies bolster the Zionist movement.”

Ma’an’s attorney, Shawki Issa said that Al-Masri’s accusations were harmful. “We are a media institution founded on the principle of civilized debate. We are shocked at this bizarre and rude criticism.”

“This behavior by Al-Masri is strange because, when he was campaigning for office, he broadcast his campaign message on Ma’an’s sites and radio stations,” the attorney added.

An official with the Palestinian Journalists’ Union, Hassan Abdel Jawad, commented on the remarks, saying, “What was said about Ma’an by Al-Masri is abusive and immoral. It is attack against both Ma’an and against the Palestinian community.”

Ma’an Editor-In-Chief, Nasser Lahham issued the following statement: “We don’t have any hatred for members of parliament who are campaigning in elections. We welcome their writings and post them on our website without discrimination.”

“I am very surprised at what was said by deputy Al-Masri,” he continued. “As a result we filed an official complaint with the journalists’ union and we will raise the issue with the head of the Change and Reform [Hamas] bloc in the parliament and the head of the Legislative Council. I hope that in the future there will be better and more civil relations between us and political activists.”

Al-Lahham added that the original report that caused the controversy was based on an interview with a Hamas political figure in Ramallah. He said the article was not intended as an attack on any party.