Perhaps I should first clarify that no one forced me to write this column. Contrary to the false perception some people have tried to create about this newspaper, I had to convince the editor-in-chief to let me write this. What prompted me to do so was the Knesset's shameful vote on the "Israel Hayom Law," and my message is very simple -- I am proud to work at Israel Hayom, and Wednesday's vote only reinforced this pride. At my age, I have accumulated certain experience in the media in general, and newspapers in particular. This is not a boast. I am just saying that I have seen quite a few embarrassing media-related events during my life. But the absurd spectacle that took place at the Knesset on Wednesday was one of the most repulsive I have encountered. Why? Mainly because of the hypocrisy and cynicism demonstrated by the supporters of the law. They exalted democracy with their words, but, in their hearts, they were seeking to protect narrow and ugly interests. Really, Nachman Shai? This law would strengthen freedom of press in Israel? Is this what you truly think? Really, Merav Michaeli? Wiping Israel Hayom off the map would ease the economic problems of other newspapers? Of Maariv, which lost tens of millions of shekels per year before the first edition of Israel Hayom was published? And to MKs who were journalists, what about you? How did your hands not tremble when you voted for this law, which is meant to silence the voice of a newspaper? With your votes, you brought shame to your professional records, staining them with marks of eternal disgrace. And what hypocrisy! Oh, the hypocrisy. Ostensibly, the law is designed to "fix" the economic problems caused by the existence of Israel Hayom in the media world. Really, Eitan Cabel? This is the reason? Several newspapers will benefit from the disappearance of Israel Hayom? In fact, there will be one -- Yedioth Ahronoth. It is clear to all that the real motivation for this law is political. MK Cabel, it's called the silencing of voices, no matter how you try to portray this clearly unconstitutional law. Never in the history of the country has there been a law so specifically tailored to target a single entity. To avoid any confusion, perhaps the law should have just targeted newspapers whose names begin with "I" and end with "M" and have the same number of pages and same days of the week of publication as Israel Hayom. When Avi Katz, the founder of Cofix, announced he plans to establish a chain of supermarkets that sell goods for only five shekels, he, justifiably, received congratulations from all directions. When we offer a newspaper for free to the entire public (regardless of color, gender, religion or place of residence), there are MKs who want to require us to impose an additional expense on the public. This is true, Stav Shaffir? This was the message of the social protest of which you were a leader -- to help one tycoon get a little bit richer at the expense of Israeli news consumers? There is no need to worry, Israel Hayom will continue to be published, as always. I, personally, am proud to be among its editors and writers, some of the best in Israel, who dare to present ideas outside the box of traditional journalism and have taken over the Israeli media market, based solely on the power of their dedication to their readers. A vast majority -- 80% -- of Israelis oppose this shameful law, and you MKs, from all parties, are ignoring the will of those who elected you to represent them. On Wednesday, I watched as members of the Labor Party, which I have supported over the past 40 years, voted in favor of the law. It seems that I will not be voting for Labor again.
