If the voted in favor of the bill promoted the most conservative wing of the Netanyahu government, the news department her state television In Israel it is threatened with abolition. The question that arises is whether there will be a reaction from the Ebu or if the government will move on irrevocably. May exist Public Broadcasting Without News; In the case of Israel, this scenario now seems likely, as the bill was approved on 29/6 by the Inter -Ministerial Preparatory Committee of the House.

What does the bill provide

The new law proposes the complete abolition of the Public Broadcasting Department “KAN” and the closure or private undertaking of the Kan Bet news radio – the most popular radio in the country, which maintains the largest advertising share. In addition, the bill includes a severe reduction of almost 50%of state funding. State television will be limited exclusively to entertainment, sports and children’s programs, with the exception of the Arabic -speaking channel “MANK”, where the newsletters will be maintained.

Political goals and reactions

The meeting of the committee responsible was characterized by tensions, as government legal advisers and Likund officials expressed reservations. However, the initiative stems from the right wing of the government coalition and the far-right, ethnic parties under Ben-Gvir and Smotric. Have preceded the promotion of the so -called ‘Judicial Reform’which has caused a deep division in Israeli society.

It is noteworthy that “KAN” journalistic investigations have contributed decisively to the shaping of Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption cases. Thus, since 2019 the prime minister has imposed an “embargo” on public broadcasting, refusing any participation in his broadcasts and every presence in the studios – an unprecedented practice.

If the bill is voted in by Kneset, Israel may become the only country worldwide where public broadcasting It will be completely deprived of informative content.

EBU, Eurovision and the future of the can

This is not the first time the issue has been raised. Since 2019 the Netanyahu government had expressed the intention of removing public television information zones. The effort then wrecking due to the forthcoming event Eurovision In Tel Aviv: A possible abolition of news in “Can” would also mean Israel’s dismissal from EBU, which requires public bodies to maintain information services – even canceling the competition in the country.

The EBU’s intervention and the public pressure exerted then temporarily secured the journalistic presence in state broadcasting. Today, in the light of new developments, the question of whether EBU will intervene again to prevent the extinction of public information from Israeli state frequencies.

The new “opening” of Netanyahu and the possibility of compromise

Another item was recently added to the scene. On June 19, for the first time in years, Benjamin Netanyahu interviewed state television, but choosing a supportive journalist and demanding the filmmaking to take place at the Prime Minister’s Office – and not in the channel studio. Some speak of any possible ‘End of the embargo’however, the interview shows more an attempt by the Prime Minister to give a message of compliance to the journalistic potential of public broadcasting. Whether this strategy will result in it remains to be seen in the near future.