"Distinct political activity": Prime Minister Lapid against Channel 14

The Yesh Atid party petitioned against Channel 14 to the Central Election Commission, claiming that "the channel operates in an aggressive manner that exceeds any accepted standard of journalism."

In the petition, Bish Atid also relied on the revelations of Walla!

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Channel 14: "A black day for Israeli democracy"

David Wertheim

09/28/2022

Wednesday, September 28, 2022, 7:35 p.m. Updated: 7:54 p.m.

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Two weeks after threatening to petition the Election Commission against Channel 14, this morning (Wednesday) the "Yesh Atid" party took action, and submitted a petition to the Central Election Commission against Channel 14, and the owner Yitzhak Mirilshvili, due to the channel's "significant political activity during the election period".

In the petition, the party's lawyers claim that "for a long period of time, Channel 14 has been operating in an aggressive manner, which goes beyond any acceptable standard of journalism, to attack Yesh Atid, and its leader, Prime Minister Yair Lapid, as well as other parties that make up the current coalition, and elevate the Likud party, and its leader, MK Netanyahu.

Although as a result of this, a weighty question arises regarding Channel 14's compliance with the conditions of the license granted to it, as well as with the provisions of the law of the Second Authority for Television and Radio."

The Patriots Studio, Channel 14 (Photo: screenshot, screenshot)

According to the notice submitted about two weeks ago, "in recent weeks Channel 14 has continued to appeal to its viewers, who are among those with the right to vote in Israel, with the aim of influencing them to support the Likud party, and in particular its leader, and to prevent support for the Yesh Atid party. Against this background, in accordance with section 10c of the law financing of the political parties, Channel 14 has the obligation to comply with the provisions of the law, to act as an "active body in the elections", including registering with the State Comptroller, adhering to the spending limits in the law, and also adhering to the provisions of the Elections Law. The warning letter also states that "the channel's senior Taking part in political activity, whether by participating in the coalition negotiations, or through clear and public support, including 'mobilizing the masses' in favor of Knesset member Netanyahu." In the

petition, Bish Atid also relied on the Walla! The channel that "dared" not to uphold the stated editorial line regarding Ayelet Shaked.

"It was also revealed that Channel 14 owns a 'message page', just like political bodies, whose content is self-evident given the monolithic nature of the channel's broadcasts. The channel's broadcasts present a distinctly one-sided position and during the channel's programs, its reporters and broadcasters try to influence the voters," the alert reads.

Yair Lapid (photo: Michael Stiff, courtesy of the FIDF organization)

The petition also writes about the video of support for opposition leader Netanyahu that the channel is promoting on social media and claims that Channel 14 executives participated in Likud propaganda and that the channel's commentator Yaakov Bardogo took part in the negotiations on behalf of the Likud, that people appearing on the channel went to work for the Likud or became candidates on its behalf, and Explicit calls from the channel's broadcasters regarding voting in the elections.

According to Yesh Atid, all of these require that the channel's broadcasts during the election period be classified as propaganda on behalf of the Likud." The party attached to the petition examples from the various publications on the channel and its social networks which it claims are used by the channel and its operator.

Channel 14 responded: "Last month, a message was conveyed from a senior official to the channel's management that, if there is no change in the broadcast schedule that will include reducing the appearances of various presenters and commentators - legal proceedings will be taken that will lead to the closing of the channel. In the future, we know very well that the declaration of Channel 14 as a political body - will result for denying the license and closing the channel even before the elections. A day when the transitional prime minister uses a supreme judge to shut down a media outlet that criticizes him is a black day for Israeli democracy. We invite Prime Minister Lapid to stop his boycott and come to be interviewed on the channel, instead of trying to shut it down." .

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• Yair Lapid

• Channel 14 - Channel 20

• Jacob Bardugo