PM blasted for delay in launch of new public broadcast body

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu came under fire Wednesday over his decision to delay the launch of a new state-run public broadcasting authority by a year and a half. As Netanyahu currently holds the communications portfolio, the decision falls under his purview.

Habayit Hayehudi and Kulanu balked at the decision, claiming that changing the legislation that has already been passed, effectively shutting down the Israel Broadcasting Authority in its current form in favor of the new body, would cost hundreds of millions of shekels, and therefore mandates a government-level discussion.

On Wednesday, Netanyahu responded to the controversy surrounding his decision.

"Israel has constant, available and efficient public broadcasting. Somehow, it encounters technical problems with programs that haven't existed before, but will," the prime minister said during a visit to the South Hebron Hills region.

Netanyahu also responded to criticism that had been leveled at him earlier by Education Minister Naftali Bennett and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked: "When it comes to people who talk about freedom of the press -- it doesn't square with their attempts to shut down 'Israel Hayom' at any price. [That's] not exactly freedom of the press, so it looks like other things are guiding them."

Earlier, Bennett had said at a conference of settlement heads that "in recent days, there has been a surprising salvo of bills designed to restrict freedom of communications, and maybe even discipline the media."

In an interview to Army Radio, Shaked called Netanyahu's decision "really astonishing, and [it's] unclear what is behind it," and said that the delay in launching the new state media outlet would "lead to its elimination."

The Likud said in response to the ministers' criticism that "Bennett and Shaked, who were among the leaders of the campaign to close down an Israeli newspaper, aren't acting in the name of freedom of expression, but rather in the name of [Yedioth Ahronoth publisher Arnon] Noni Mozes, in whose service they are operating and getting praise in Yedioth and on the Ynet [website]."

President Reuven Rivlin also criticized the prime minister's decision. Speaking at a conference held at the President's Residence on Wednesday, Rivlin said that "without public broadcasting, we will be a democratic nation with a certain handicap. Heaven help us if we bring about a situation in which there is no public broadcasting in Israel."

Labor MK Shelly Yachimovich added that "a violent act of brute strength was committed here."

Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid said that "the prime minister, in his capacity as communications minister, decided to 'kill' the public broadcasting authority. Why? Because he has no desire for an independent television channel that has no obligation to politicians."

Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon said that he was surprised to hear about the decision in the media and announced that there would be no double funding for the Israel Broadcasting Authority and a new public broadcasting outlet.

"I won't let this be foisted upon the public ... and I won't allow the public's money to be thrown at places that don't serve the public. ... No one discussed [the decision] with me personally," Kahlon said.

Not all government figures opposed Netanyahu. In an interview with Israel Radio, Jerusalem Affairs and Heritage Minister Zeev Elkin said that the Israel Broadcasting Authority would continue to operate until the new outlet was launched, and therefore Bennett's anger was unfounded.

Meanwhile, a Knesset Finance Committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday, in which the decision to push back the launch of the new public broadcasting outlet was to be discussed, has been postponed to Sunday.

The committee explained the meeting was postponed so that Histadrut labor federation Chairman Avi Nissenkoren, with whom Netanyahu consulted prior to making his decision, Communications Ministry Director General Shlomo Filber, senior officials in the new outlet and the IBA, and other figures involved could attend.

Work at the new public broadcasting outlet continues in preparation for Sept. 30, the original date on which it was due to start broadcasting.

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