BICOM

Tensions between Israel’s Prime Minister and several of his coalition partners are growing over the future of Israel’s public broadcaster ahead of a cabinet vote on Sunday.

A bill proposed by Likud MK David Bitan, with the full support of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to prevent the launch of the Israel Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) is set to be discussed today by the Knesset’s Economics Committee. The IBC is a new public broadcasting body, due to launch in January.

The bill is opposed by some of Netanyahu’s coalition partners. Shas leader Aryeh Deri has signalled his party’s intention to vote against the legislation. The most vocal critic is Finance Minister and Kulanu leader Moshe Kahlon, who appears to be boycotting all public events alongside Netanyahu in protest. He is quoted in Yediot Ahronot this morning, saying: “I will not allow a single agora (penny) to be spent, in any area, from the public’s pocket in order to make changes.”.

Bitan and Netanyahu argue that the IBC, which has already recruited employees, is too expensive. Netanyahu, who is also the communications minister, told the Knesset this week that he would instead work towards the “rehabilitation” of the existing public broadcaster, the Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA), currently being dismantled following years of perceived inefficiency.

Critics such as Kahlon accuse Netanyahu of attempting to prevent the launch of the IBC over fears that it will be critical of his government. Bitan told Channel Two last weekend that the IBC “has been hijacked by left-wing, anti-government figures”.

Kahlon has said that because Bitan’s bill will cost the state a significant amount of money to implement, as Finance Minister he can veto such legislation which incur high costs. However, Bitan maintains that Kulanu is bound by a coalition agreement to specifically back Netanyahu on all matters related to communications.