As part of the effort of Benjamin Netanyahu to further liberalize the Israeli economy, Israel’s new coalition has become convinced that state-funded broadcasting is no longer necessary. As a result, Noel Curran, Director-General of the European Broadcasting Union, addressed a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and expressed his concerns following the calls to close the Israeli public broadcasting corporation.
According to Curran, "An independent news and information body is an integral component of public service media organizations and contributes significantly to media pluralism in well-functioning democracies. Keeping in mind the main interest of the public, which directly finances KAN [Israel’s government-funded channel], we trust the new government to also preserve KAN's independence while allowing them to continue to fulfill its mission in a democratic society."
European Broadcasting Union: Israel's participation in Eurovision could be in jeopardy due to Communications Minister's comments. https://t.co/Ib9hkkkuI5
— Israel National News - Arutz Sheva (@ArutzSheva_En) January 4, 2023
Curran also added "it is the responsibility of the European Broadcasting Union to ensure its support in all its member states. These developments may undermine KAN's ability to meet its obligations as a member of the International Alliance of Public Service Media Organizations."
Netanyahu-appointed Communications Minister, Shlomo Karai, responded to the letter: "To the best of my recollection, we declared our independence as a Jewish and democratic state about 75 years ago. I expect democrats to respect democratic decisions. The citizens of Israel elected a right-wing government to implement a liberal economic agenda, including in the media sector. I am committed to the Israeli public and not to any foreign body of one kind or another. We will find the solution that will balance Israel's cultural expression in the world along with the media competition and diversity that we want to bring to the market."
Netanyahu really hates the public broadcaster by the way. https://t.co/IQWzYXPcwZ
— Michael Vokabre (@Vokabre) January 3, 2023
Minister Karai has yet to announce any plan to dismantle Israel’s broadcasting union, but when asked a few weeks ago on the matter he responded: "I will enter my new position and learn the works. We need a free media market with open competition. I have not backed down.”
This is not the first round of tension between Netanyahu and the European Broadcasting Union. Before the Eurovision Song Contest was held in Israel in 2019, a bill was proposed to split the Israeli tax-funded media corporation, but then it was made clear to Netanyahu that the law could harm the existence of the Eurovision Contest in Israel, forcing him to back down and avoid diplomatic humiliation.
Israel's Channel 11, known as Kan is one of the leading networks in the country. With fewer commercials and a multi-year streak of producing some of the Jewish nation's top news, drama and entertainment programs, the 'public broadcaster' is different from many publicly funded broadcasters in Europe and the United States. Netanyahu's coalition objects more to the news division which is independent and is not dissuaded from deep investigative reporting.
Kan hit the airwaves in 2017 replacing the longtime previous public broadcaster, Israel Broadcasting Authority. Then-prime minister Netanyahu strongly opposed the creation of Kan because he perceived it as being too left-wing and difficult to control.
— Plus61J Media (@Plus61J) December 2, 2022
In Israel, the move to silence Kan in the past was thought by the public to be a punitive measure to silence a critic that can and has exposed corruption, in liberal and conservative parties. Given the make-up of the Netanyahu government, with a three-time convicted lawmaker serving as health and interior minister and unqualified people in security roles, it is expected that the scrutiny on this government will be high.
