Will Bibi bring down Israel's public broadcasting?

In the course of his intensive coalition negotiations with Zionist Camp leader Isaac Herzog for the establishment of a unity government, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was asked to transfer the communications portfolio to Herzog’s party. “Forget about it,” said Netanyahu, according to a political source who spoke on condition of anonymity. “I’d give you the premiership before the Communications Ministry.”

In the last seven years, Netanyahu has inched closer to autocratic rule than any other Israeli leader. He fortified his rulership and has consolidated several key government ministries under his wing. In addition to the premiership, Netanyahu also serves as foreign minister, communications minister, economy minister and regional development minister, in addition to other functions. Though the Communications Ministry is seen as an underfunded and small ministry, Netanyahu has no intentions of ever relinquishing it.

The struggle for a free, independent press in Israel intensified in recent weeks after Netanyahu and his people stopped even trying to whitewash their efforts to bring about the closure of the new public broadcasting corporation before it even sees the light of day. The kinds of statements uttered in the July 31 meeting regarding the establishment of a corporation that is supposed to be independent and separate from the political system had never been heard before in Israeli politics.

Culture Minister Miri Regev did not hide the Likud's aspiration to control the corporation. “It’s inconceivable that we’ll establish a corporation that we won’t control. What’s the point?” she asked. “We put down the money and they broadcast whatever they want?” Minister of Internal Security Gilad Erdan, who initiated the establishment of the corporation about two years ago, tried to give Regev a lesson in democracy. But he seemed to be talking to a wall. Additional ministers attacked the establishment of the corporation and argued that there were not enough Likud supporters among the journalists in the corporation’s ranks. Others claimed that Naftali Bennett, head of Orthodox Zionist HaBayit HaYehudi, has control over some of the journalists since they are “skullcap wearers” (Orthodox Jews). At this stage, Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, a member of Bennett’s party, lost her cool. She banged on the table and blasted the Likud ministers, saying, “Stop it already with your lies! Learn to control [yourselves] and stop complaining. … You have your own newspaper, what are you whining about?”



Read more: http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2016/08/netanyahu-undermines-israeli-free-press-public-broadcasting.html#ixzz4G9Wsz57g