From the Liveblog of
Thursday, February 23, 2023
Eurovision organizer warns Israel against curbing public broadcaster’s independence
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The European Broadcasting Union, which puts on the Eurovision Song Contest, releases a statement citing its concern over “fresh threats to the independence and sustainability” of the Kan public broadcaster.
In a statement, the organization notes Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi’s comment last month that there’s “no place” for public broadcasting in Israel and a number of moves Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is advancing, including plans that would lead to a drop in Kan’s revenues and the closure of several radio stations.
It also mentions that Karhi, a member of Netanyahu’s Likud party, sent a letter this week calling into question the broadcaster’s coverage of the coalition’s plans to weaken the judiciary.
“Impartial news and information are critical to the functioning of a healthy democracy,” EBU director Noel Curran says. “We call on the Israeli government to safeguard the independence of our member Kan and ensure it is allowed to operate in a sustainable way, with funding that is both stable, adequate, fair, and transparent.”
The warning is the second from the EBU since the government took office in late December.
The Times of Israel Community.