Communications c'mtee advances split of Karhi media reform bill amid backlash – The Jerusalem Post

Despite opposition from legal advisers, the Special Committee on the Communications Bill approved splitting the legislation into two bills after a vote on Monday.
Chaired by Galit Distel-Atbaryan, the bill calls for sweeping reforms to Israel’s broadcasting sector and has been led by Communications Minister Shlomo Khari.
The proposal was approved with seven MKs voting in favor and six against. A revote is scheduled for a later date.
Under the split, the first part of the bill will deal mainly with restructuring Israel’s broadcasting oversight system, including laying the groundwork for a new media regulator, setting financial and local production requirements for content providers, and, most notably, regulating how content from Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (KAN) and the Knesset Channel is distributed, and outlining how the changes would be implemented and gradually phased in.
The second half of the bill, to be enacted separately, would address news providers and the new regulations, oversight and enforcement, investment obligations for international providers, and clauses concerning prohibited broadcasts and additional regulatory powers.
“In the current governmental reality, it is impossible to advance all of the legislation. We want to split off the issue of news regulation – it is a major and important issue – but because there is disagreement on the matter and we have not exhausted the discussion, it would also not be right to advance a non-consensual arrangement,” Communications Minister Karhi explained at the committee meeting.
“The Second Authority will continue supervising the entities it already regulates, but it is important to regulate the issue soon and with broad agreement, because the day will come – and it is not far away – when it will no longer be worthwhile to hold a license.”
With the new framework, no changes would be made to the Second Authority for Television and Radio or the Council for Cable and Satellite Broadcasting.
While the legislation would have no direct effect on KAN, critics of the bill fear it could be the first step toward Karhi normalizing government intervention in broadcasting structure.
Additionally, it would prove to be the first step toward Karhi’s proposed broader reforms aimed at reshaping Israel’s media landscape.
Opposition lawmakers have sharply criticized Kahri’s proposed reforms, with many warning that it is undemocratic and could be used to silence the media during a crucial election year.
Karhi, however, rejects these claims, insisting his reforms will have the opposite effect by opening the market to a wider range of voices, which he argues will strengthen press freedom.
Keshet Neev contributed to this report.
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