Coalition renews threats to close new public broadcaster

Several ministers are raising the possibility that the government will renew its efforts to close the new public broadcaster.

At today’s meeting of coalition party heads, Interior Minister Aryeh Deri is reported to have suggested closing the Kan public broadcasting corporation as a cash-saving measure to avoid expected across-the-board budget cuts for 2018, and gained the support of several other ministers including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Only Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon opposed the idea that was unexpectedly floated during the meeting, Globes reports.

Shortly after the meeting, Communications Minister Ayoub Kara wrote on Twitter: “I was happy to receive the blessings of the prime minister to close the public broadcaster: An end to a waste of public money.”

But the tweet was soon deleted and replaced with: “The coalition leaders approached me to close the public broadcaster. I approached the prime minister and when a final decision is taken on the matter I will update accordingly.”

According to Channel 2, Deri was asked to bring up the issue by Netanyahu.