The EBU says it is “deeply concerned” that the Israeli Government is pushing ahead with plans that could lead to the end of public service broadcasting in the country.
In a private member’s bill put forward by Likud MK Tally Gotliv, the government would issue a tender for the radio and television networks controlled by IPBC, which includes public broadcaster KAN and Reshet Radio. If no buyer is found for its TV and radio networks, the broadcaster could be closed within two years.
Gotliv’s bill is near identical to earlier government legislation brought forward by Communications Minister Shlomi Karhi.
The Attorney General’s Office published a letter from deputy attorney generals Meir Levin and Avital Sompolinsky that said such legislation should be issued directly by the government and not in the former of a public members bill.
EBU Director General Noel Curran said: “Public service broadcasting in Israel is under sustained political attack, facing threats that not only jeopardise its independence but its very existence in the future.
“We share the concern of the Attorney General’s office that this is a political reaction to KAN’s content, from a government that wants to either get more control over it or shut down the broadcaster altogether.”
Israel’s public broadcaster has been a member of the EBU since 1957.
