Interior Ministry spokesman Markus Beyer said Al-Manar television programming was forbidden under Article 9 of Germany's constitution, which says that organizations cannot operate with the purpose of violating "international understanding."

Al-Manar had no immediate comment.

Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble ordered the ban on November 11, Beyer said in an e-mailed comment.

Beyer was not more specific on why the ban was instituted, but Hezbollah's Al-Manar television is known to be staunchly anti-Israel and frequently broadcasts footage of Hezbollah fighters.

Beyer did not immediately return a call seeking further comment.

Arabic-language Al-Manar is based in Beirut and broadcasts locally and by satellite.

The station has no physical presence in Germany.

Hezbollah, which has been fighting Israel since the early 1980s, has broad support among Lebanon's Shiite population. Israel and the U.S. consider it a terrorist organization and accuse it of being behind deadly attacks in Lebanon and abroad.

The ban includes promoting, raising funds for al-Manar and receiving the channel at hotels. Residences will still be able to receive the channel in Germany.

The United States banned the channel in 2004 saying it belonged to a terrorist organization.

In 2004 France also banned al Manar . Paris-based satellite operator Eutelsat ceased to broadcast the Lebanese television station on Dec-15-2004, following a ruling by France's highest administrative court. Omar Karameh , Lebanese Prime Minister during that period threatened to punish French media in response to the French ban.

Hezbollah is not banned in Germany but is under observation by the country's domestic intelligence agency, which tracks extremists.

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