Israel Press Council chief warns of expected attack on freedom of press

Former Supreme Court justice Hanan Meltzer, who now serves as president of the Israeli Press Council, warns of an expected attempt by the incoming government to impose limits on the freedom of the press in Israel.

Speaking at Reichman University, Meltzer responds to news that the incoming government wants to shut down the news division of the Kan public broadcaster.

“The Press Council will be forced to turn to the public and do everything in its power to thwart an expected attack on the freedom of the press and the media,” he says.

“In recent days, it was reported that the news division of the public broadcaster will be abolished, and some believe that this trend is expected to be extended to other media as well,” Meltzer says.

“If this is not officially denied as soon as possible, I hereby announce as the president of the Press Council that we will be forced to appeal to the public and do whatever we can within the framework of the law to thwart this anticipated attack on the freedom of the press and the media, the public’s right to know and our democratic resilience.”