Finance Ministry legal adviser rejects minister’s plan to limit Kan’s funding

The Finance Ministry’s legal adviser has rejected Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi’s desired steps to limit funding for the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation in the next state budget.

Asi Messing says the proposal was submitted without clear administrative work to back it up. He says Karhi’s desire to block the IPBC from receiving ad revenue could significantly increase its dependence on the government.

Karhi has said there is no reason to support state public broadcasting in Israel and indicated he seeks to shut down the IPBC, which broadcasts under the name Kan.

The plan has seen significant pushback. Channel 12 reported earlier this month that the government has decided to freeze the move, as it looks to focus on pushing through its contentious overhaul of the judiciary and wants to limit the number of public battles it faces.