MK David Bitan (Likud) Chairman of the Economy Committee at the debate on the approval of the obligation of license plates for electric tools/Knesset spokespersons
Another attempt at intimidation, another attempt at political interference in the work of the management of the Broadcasting Corporation: a bill submitted by MK Ariel Kellner of the Likud and which will be submitted to the Ministerial Committee this coming Sunday seeks to hold a sort of annual "hearing" for the corporation's management.
So far, according to the Corporation Law, The Board of the Corporation would once a year send an annual financial report and an annual summary report about the activities for the review of the Minister of Communications.
According to the bill, the reports will also be forwarded to the Knesset, for discussion by the Economic Committee, which can, if it wishes, summon the chairman and CEO of the corporation to a discussion in front of the members of the Economic Committee. In practice, this means accountability to the coalition and an opening for control and criticism of television content contrary to the spirit The law.
Today, according to the Public Broadcasting Law, the Chairman of the Council submits once a year to the Minister of Communications the corporation's financial reports as well as a report on the corporation's activities, which refers to compliance with the goals set by the Council, and compliance with the provisions of the law regarding the purchase of Israeli productions.
If the Minister of Communications believes that the reports do not accurately reflect the corporation's conduct, he can forward them to the Government Companies Authority for inspection. The corporation is also obligated to publish the reports transparently on the website - and has been doing so since its establishment.
MK Ariel Kellner, announcing the verdict of Kosai Abbas for attempted murder, throwing stones at vehicles, sabotage and rioting during the wall guard operation in the city of Acre, at the Haifa district court, July 13, 2023/Shlomi Gabai
The offer comes against the background of criticism of the high costs of the "Rolnik Report" series broadcast by the corporation - costs that reached up to NIS 600,000 per episode
We will also mention
that the goal of the legislator in 2014 in establishing the Public Broadcasting Corporation, then under Communications Minister Gilad Erdan and the Netanyahu government, was to create a buffer between the public broadcasting and the politicians and their followers.
Therefore, several "walls" were erected to strengthen the independence of the corporation, so that it would not be influenced more easily.
Even the chairman of the search committee for the members of the corporation's board - which oversees the corporation's management - should be a former judge who is approved by the minister of communications and the supreme president.
The proposal comes against the backdrop of criticism of the high costs of the "Rolnik Report" series broadcast by the corporation - costs that reached up to 600 One thousand shekels per episode, plus hundreds of thousands of shekels for an advertising campaign to accompany the series. On the other hand, some believe that the very criticism arose on purpose and as part of a campaign by right-wing people identified with Netanyahu, with the aim of delegitimizing the corporation's work.
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Communications Minister Shlomo Karai/Flash 90, Yonatan Zindel
"Proposals by members of the Knesset concerning the cessation of public funding for the corporation or its reduction will receive my unequivocal support," Karai wrote
This is not the first attempt in recent weeks to weaken and harm the public broadcasting corporation.
In fact, already about two months after the start of the war, at the end of 2023, Bavala was revealed!
Branch that the Ministry of Communications has already begun preparations for a number of legislative measures designed to harm the Public Broadcasting Corporation.
What is common to the legislative initiatives formulated by Karai, while the fighting continues, is that they are based on the strengthening of Channel 14 and the bibist radio station Gali Israel, at the expense of public funds and the Public Broadcasting Corporation.
Among other things, Karai asked to allow Channel 14 to go on the Idan Plus platform for free, when the payment for this regulatory benefit, in the amount of millions of shekels per year, would be made indirectly by the Treasury, the Knesset channel and mainly through the budget of the Israel Broadcasting Corporation - which could have made new content with these millions of shekels. and to help in some way the Israeli production industry which is currently fighting for its survival.
About two weeks ago, Karai shared a column by the corporation's presenter Kalman Libeskind, who harshly criticized the corporation and claimed that "half of Israeli society is required to pay for propaganda that presents it as a disaster."
Karai admitted that the current coalition does not have a majority to close the broadcasting corporation.
"As of today, there is probably no majority in the coalition to privatize the corporation. There are MKs and ministers who oppose it, even if they tell you otherwise.
There is an almost complete harmony between those who opposed the legal reform and those who oppose or quibble about the privatization of the corporation.
I don't decide on that, I have no authority on the matter.
Even the corporation's budget is fixed by law and does not need my approval.
And I tried to cut it very recently and the Minister of Finance is proud that he stopped it.
At the same time, bills by members of the Knesset regarding the termination of public funding for the corporation or its reduction will receive my unequivocal support," he wrote.
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