BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- The United States is asking Israel to return equipment seized from a Palestinian broadcaster in February, the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists reported Tuesday.

Lawrence Silverman, director of the US State Dept.'s office of Israel and Palestinian affairs, promised to intervene in a letter responding to requests from CPJ, the group reported.

"I can assure you that our Embassy and Consulate General in Jerusalem will continue to assist in securing the release of the Wattan TV equipment while working with the Israelis and Palestinians to ensure future access to free and fair information in the region," Silverman wrote in the letter which CPJ posted online.

Watan TV has been operating without key equipment, including transmitters, computers, files, and archives, since the Feb. 29 raid by Israeli soldiers operating without a warrant.

The soldiers were accompanied by Israel's Ministry of Communications which claimed the station was operating illegally and interfering with aircraft transmissions.